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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
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microfiches. 


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Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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n 

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Couverture  endommag^e 


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met 


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10X 

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26X 

30X 

y 

^Mi^i 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


re 

I6tails 
BS  du 
Tiodifier 
Br  une 
filmage 


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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


les 


e 


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Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
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premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernldre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 

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Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  fiim6  A  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  hai:t  an  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


t  errata 
d  to 

It 

le  pelure, 

pon  d 


n 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

J 


B 


hi: 


.. .  -■  i" 


WASHINGTON'S  FIRST  CAlirAIGN, 


•DEATH  OF  JUMONVILLE, 


i: 


AND    THE 


.        :,         l» 


Mi 


TAJaNG  OF  FORT  NECESSFrr; 


ALSO, 


BRADDOCK'S  DEFEAT; 


THE    MARCH    OF    THE    UNIORTUNATK    UKNERAL    KXPT.AINED    BV    A 

niSTINOUISHED  HISTORIAN,    TRACED  O'N  THE  GROUND  BY 

A  CIVIL  ENGINEER,  AND  EXHIBITED  ON  A  NEAT 

AND    ACCURATE  M^  1*,    PREPARED 

UNDER  HIS  DIRECTION. 


THE  WHOLE  ARRANCiED  M 


NEVILLE   B    CRAia. 


!l 


•  PITTSBURGH: 

^"iciNTED  By  WRIGHT  ifefelARETON,    S.   E.  CORNER  tit  THE  DlAMUiSt>. 

1848. 


s- 


WASHINGTON'S  FIRST  CAMPAIGN, 


AND 


BRADDOCK'S  DEFEAT. 


(I 


INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS. 

There  is  in  the  wliole  history  of  the  valley  of  the  Missisippi,  no  event 
which  stands  out  so  prominently,  or  which  possesses  a  deeper  interest 

to  Americans  than  the  rout  of  the  British  and  American  colonial  troops 
on  the  banks  of  the  Monongehala  river,  on  the  9th  of  July,  1755.  It  is 
interesting  in  the  first  place  on  account  of  its  influence  on  the  colonies 
at  the  tine.  Chief  Justice  Marshal  in  Iiis  Life  of  Washington  says, 
"  The  whole  frontier  of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Virginia  was  left 
exposed  to  the  incursions  of  the  savages,  the  back  settlements  were  gen- 
erally broken  up  and  the  inhabitants  driven  into  the  interior  country. 
So  excessive  was  the  alarm,  that  even  the  lower  parts  of  those  colonies 
entertained  apprehensions  for  their  safety,  and  persons  were  not  wanting, 
who  supposed  that  the  seaboard  itself  was  insecure." 

It  is  interesting,  because  on  that  fatal  day  Washington  and  many 
other  Americans*  took  their  first  lessons  in  that  art,  which  twenty  years 
after  they  were  called  on  to  exert  in  defence  of  the  liberty  of  the  country. 
It  is  interesting,  also,  because  it  was  the  first  battle  near  the  Ohio,  in 
that  war  which  arose  out  of  the  conflicting  claims  of  Franco  and  Great 
Britain  to  this  beautiful  valley,  and  because  it  resulted  in  the  trinn:j:h 
of  the  former  and  in  the  temporary  expulsion  of  every  British  pubjert 
from  this  region. 

More  attention  has  recently  been  attracted  to  it,  becausf  the  recent 
improvement  of  the  Monongahela  river  by  locks  and  dams,  has  made  it 
the  great  thoroughfare  between  the  East  and  the  West,  and  thus  caused 

»  Among  others  Gpn.  Gates,  Gen.  Morgan,  Col.  Crawford,  Col.  Jno.  Neville.  Sec. 


1 1 


H 


many  thousand  passengers  niontlily  lo  puss  williia  viow  of  ilial  (iuld 
which  was  so  abundantly  watered  with  the  blood  of  the  most  gallant  of 
Britain's  sons.  This  circumstance  has  excited  curiosity  and  caused 
much  inquiry  as  to  the  events  of  that  day  and  those  which  preceded  it. 
ft  has,  in  conse([r  mce,  more  than  once  been  sug'^estcd  to  the  writer  of 
these  remarks,  that  a  pamphlet  on  the  subject  of  the  transactions  in  this 
and  adjoining  counties  in  the  years  1751  and  1755  would  be  acceptable 
to  very  many  of  those  travelers  who  daily  and  hourly  pass  by  Braddock's 

Field. 

In  compliance  with  this  suggestion  the  following  compilation  is  made, 
consisting  mainly  of  extracts  from  contemporaneous  publicatims  and 
authentic  histories,  with  a  few  explanatory  remarks  interposed  where 
necessary  to  the  continuousness  of  the  narrative. 

CAPTURE  OF  "  THE  FORKS"  IN  1754. 

In  the  summer  of  175:1,  French  troops  sent  from  Canada  were  in 
possession  of  Presque  Isle,  where  Erie  now  stands,  of  Le  Bo^uf  near 
Waterford,  and  of  Fort  Venango  now  Fianklin.  The  Governor  of 
Viro-inia,  beiu"-  alarmed  by  these  movements,  in  November,  1754  dis- 
patched  George  Washington  on  a  mission  to  the  French  commandant 
at  Le  Bceuf.  The  information  communicated  bv  Washington  on  his 
return  only  increased  the  fears  of  Governor  Dinwiddie  of  Virginia,  and 
he  determined  immediately  to  send  a  small  fr  to  occupy  and  fortify 
this  place. 

In  April,  Captain  Trent's  company  was  at  wiis  i)lace,  under  IJnsign 
Ward,  erecting  a  fort,  Captain  Trent  himself  was  still  at  Cumberland, 
and  Lieut.  Eraser  at  his  residence  on  Turtle  Creek.  On  the  lOth  of 
April,  1754,  Monsieur  Contrecomr  descended  the  Allegheny  with  a  con- 
siderable force  of  French  and  Indians,  and  summoned  Ward  to  surrender 
his  unfinished  work. 

Ward  afterwards  reported  the  number  of  French  to  be  one  thousand, 
with  eighteen  pieces  of  cannon,  in  about  sixty  batteaux,  and  three  hun- 
dred canoes.  This  number  has  been  said  to  be  an  exao-n-erati(  n,  but 
when  it  is  recollected  that  during  Washington's  stay  at  fort  Le  Bo'uf  lu" 
jiad  the  cano.es  counted,  and  found  that  there  were  at  that  place  on  the 
13tb  .of  December,  "fifty  birch  bark,  and  one  hundred  and  seventy  pine 
canofcs  ;  bedsides  many  others  which  were  blocked  out,  ready  to  be  made," 
we  may  n^adily  believe  that  the  number,  in  April,  might  reach  three 
hundred.  The  batteaux  could  be  built  there  and  at  fort  ^'enango,  or 
they  might  be  drawn  on  sledges  IVum  Presque  Isle.  AUogelher,  we  think, 
the  statement  of  Ward  may  not  have  been  very  wide  of  the  trutii. 

Jlesistance,  by  about  tbrty  men,  even  with  the  aid  of  an  unfinished 
stockade,  to  several  liundrc'd  French  with  several  pieces  of  cannon,  was, 
^of  course,  out  of  the   ([uesti«)n.     Ward  had  no  brother  ofiicer  to  consult 


I. 


5 


I  or  ihal  (iokl 
nost  giillant  of 
ty  and  caused 
,h  preceded  it. 
;o  the  writer  of 
sactions  in  this 
1  be  acceptable 
by  Braddock's 

Illation  is  made, 
iiblicatims  and 
Lerposed  where 


54. 

Canada  were  m 


with  ;  but  Tanacharison,  tlie  Ilair-iviiio-  of  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians,  a 
zealous  friend  of  the  En«^Iisli,  was  present  and  advised  him  to  inform 
the  French  that  he  was  not  an  officer  of  rank,  nor  was  lie  invented  with 
authority  to  answer  their  demands,  ;uul  to  rc([nest  them  to  await  the  ar- 
rival of  the  chief  coniinaiider.  Hi;  went  accordingly  with  his  reply  to 
the  French  camp, 'J'uiiiiclmrison  ucconipanyini,''  him;  ('ontreca-ur,  how- 
ever, refused  to  wait,  and  demanded  an  immediate  surrender,  declarinjr 
that  he  would,  otherwise,  take  possession  by  force.  An  immediate  cap- 
itulation, of  course,  followed.  On  the  subsecpient  day,  Ensign  Ward, 
with  his  men,  ascended  the  Alonomrahela  to  the  mouth  of  Red  Stone 
creek.  A  full  narrative  of  the  \vliole  alliiir  was  i^iven  under  oath  by 
Ensin^n  Ward  to  Governor  Dinwiddie,  who  transmitted  it  to  the  British 
Government.  Mr.  Si)urks,  in  Jiis  odiiion  of  the  A\'ritinsi:s  of  Washinjrton, 
states  that  the  orii^inal  was  in  the  Plantation  odice  in  Jilnoland,  where  he 
examined  it  and  prej)ared  his  account  of  the  iiKiltL-r,  which  we  Ib'low. 
In  his  narrative,  Ward  states  that  (Jtjntrecouii-  invited  him  to  supper  the 
■  Le  Bd^nf  near  \  ^venirifr  of  the  cai)itulation  and  treated  him  very  politely.  Poor  Ward, 
he  Governor  of  |  probably,  had  but  little  appetite,  and  had  his  host  foreseen  all  the  con- 
jinber,  1754  dis-      I    secjuence  of  the  doinn;s  of  that  day,  his  happiness  vrould,  no  doubt,  have 

been  much  clouded. 

This  atTair  has  always  been  considered  as  the  commencement  of  that 
memorable  war  which  was  terminated  by  the  treaty  of  Paris  ;  by  which 
France  renounced  all  claim  to  Nova  Scotia,  and  ceded  to  Great  Britain 
Canada  and  all  the  territory  east  vi  the  Mississii)pi,  except  the  Isle  of 
Orleans;  and  Spain  ceded  to  the  same  power  all  Florida.  Monsieur  Con- 
trecceur  proceeded,  inmiediately,  to  complete  the  work  begun  by  Ward, 
and  callea  it  Fort  Duqiiesne,  after  the  then  Governor  of  Canada. 

Washington  reached  Will's  creek  with  three  companies  on  the  20th 
of  April,  and  two  days  after.  Ensign  Ward  arrived  with  the  intelligence 
of  his  ca})ture.  Washington  immediately  s(mt  expresses  to  the  Govern- 
ors of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Virginia,  asking  for  reinforcements, 
and  then  after  a  consultation  with  his  brother  otficers,  resob^ed  to  advance, 
and,  if  possible,  to  reach  the  Monon;;ahela,  near  where  Brownsville  now 
'  stands,  and  there  erect  a  fortihcation.  On  the  9tli  of  May  he  Avas  at  the 
that  place  on  the  i  Little  Meadows,  and  there  received  information  that  Contrecceur  had  been 
and  seventy  pine  I  reinforced  with  eight  hundred  men.  On  the  18th  he  was  encamped  on 
L'ady  to  be  made,"  ihe  Youghiogheny,  near  where  Smithfield,  in  Fayette  county,  now  stands. 
uicT-ht  reach  three  From  that  point  he  with  Lieutenant  AVest,  three  soldiers  and  an  Indian, 
fort  A'^enango,  or  'descended  the  river  about  thirty  miles,  hoping  to  find  it  navigable  so  that 
to<'"ether,  we  think,  Jie  could  transport  his  cannon  in  canoes,  but  was  disappointed.  He  had 
jf  the  truth.  ..scarcely  returned  to  his  troops,  when  a  messenger  from  his  old  friend 

1  of  an  unfinished  franacharison  arrived,  with  information  that  the  French  were  marching 
;l'S  of  cannon,  was,  lowards  hiin,  with  a  determination  to  attack  him.  The  same  day  he  re- 
'r  ofiiv'er  to  consult  ieived   further  information,  tliat  the  enemy  were  at  the  crossings  of  the 


ich  commandant 
ishington  on  his      , 
of  Virginia,  and 
cupy  and  fortify 

e,  under  Ensign 
at  Cumberland, 
On   the  10th  of 
heny  with  a  con- 

V'ard  to  surrender 


be  one  thousand, 
,  and  three  hun- 
exa"'gerati(  n,  but 
fort  Le  Bd'uf  he 


K 


I 


I 


f 


6 


'.^ 


Vonphioglieny,  iieur  wlicroC'onnelsville  now  sIiukIs,  about  ei!;j;hleeii  miles 
i'rom  his  own  enraiiipinent.  Ifn  ilwri  liurriod  to  tho  (iroat  Meadows, 
where  he  maih'  ;iii  iiitrenohiiciil.  and  by  dearinir  avvuy  the  bushes  pre- 
pared a  fine  liehl  (i»r  an  t  iic  junter."  iNext  day  M.  Gist,  his  old  pilot  who 
resided  near  lh(!  ('ros.sintrs, arrived  with  the  nous  that  a  French  detaeh- 
ment  (if  fifty  men  had  been  at  his  place  the  day  before. 

That  same  ni'j-ht,  (May  '^S'li,)  ybdif  nine  i.'clnel:,  an  express  arrived 
from  Tanacharison,  who  was  tlien  eneainped  with  some  of  his  warriors 
about  six  n»iles  otr,  with  inforniaiion  th.it  the  Fremdi  wore  near  his  en- 
caniinnent.  Col.  AVashin<rtoii,  says  Sjiarks,  innnediatcly  started  with  forty 
men  to  join  the  [jalf-lviiio-.  The  niirht  was  dark,  the  rain  fell  in  torrents, 
the  woods  were  iatrieate,  the  soldiers  often  lost  their  way  ;Tro])ing  in  the 
bushes  and  clambering  over  rocks  and  lojrrs,  but  at  lentrth  they  arrived  at 
the  Indian  camp  just  before  sunrisi',  (May  2St;:.)  A  Council  with  Tana- 
charison was  imuietliately  iield,  and  joint  operations  ajrainst  the  French 
were  determined  on.  'I'wo  Indian  spies  diseevcred  the  t'nemy's  position 
in  an  obscure  place,  surrounded  by  rocks,  and  a  half  mile  from  the  road. 
Washinston  was  to  advance  on  the  ritdit,  'i'anacharison  on  the  left.  Thus 
they  approached  in  sinjrlc  file,  until  they  were  discovered  by  the  French 
who  immediately  seized  their  arms  and  prepared  for  action.  The  action 
commenced  by  a  brisk  firincf  on  both  sides,  which  was  kept  up  for  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  when  the  French  ceased  to  reoist.  Monsieur  .Tumon- 
ville,  the  commandant,  and  ten  of  his  men  were  killed,  and  twenty-two 
were  taken  prisoners,  one  of  whom  was  wounded.  A  Canadian  escaped 
during  the  action.  Wasliinirlon  had  one  man  killed  and  two  wounded. 
No  harm  happened  the  Indian^'.  Tiie  prisoners  were  sent  to  Governor 
Dinwiddle. 

The  Canadian  who  escaped  at  the  time  of  Jumonville's  death  would,  of 
course,  carry  the  news  of  that  affair  to  F(n-t  Duquesne,  and  Washing'ton, 
anlicipating  that  a  larger  force  would  bo  sent  against  iiun,scthis  troops  to 
work  to  enlarge  and  strengthen  tlie  work  he  had  prepared  at  the  Great 
Meadows,  and  called  it  Fort  Necessity. 

The  Indians  began  to  flock  in  around  him,  Tanacharison  and  his  follow- 
ers, (i^'ou  Aliquippa  and  her  sons,  and  others  to  the;  number  of  forty  or  fifty 
famili;  s.  Captain  Mackay,  with  an  independent  company  of  one  hundred 
men  from  South  Carolina,  also  joined  him.  That  oliiccr  had  a.  royal  com- 
mission, which  he  thought  placed  him  over  Washington.  He  however, 
was  a  prudent  man,  and  no  disagreement  occurred.  On  the  lOih  of  June, 
nine  deserters  from  the  French  arrived  at  Washing  ton's  camp,  and  con- 
firmed intelligence  previously  received  by  a  messenger  sent  from  Logs- 
town  to  Tanacharison,  tliat  the  Shawnese  and  Delawares  had  agreed  to 
take  np  the  hatchet  against  tlie  English.  These  deserters  also  stated  tliat 
the  Fort  .at  the  Forks  was  completed.     They  stated  that  there  were  not 


i 


nor 
brei 
It 

in  il 
fore 
pen( 
pres 
was 
<( 


•  ■  * 


eighteen  miles 
roat  Meadows, 
ho  bushes  pre- 
is  old  pilot  who 
I'Vench  detuch- 

exprosa  arrived 
of  his  warriors 
ere  near  his  e/i- 
ilarted  wilhCorty 
11  fell  in  torrents, 
ly  (rrojjing  in  the 

I  ihny  arrived  at 
iincil  with  Tana- 
ainst  the  French 
enemy's  position 
l(>  from  the  rwad. 

II  the  left.  Thus 
^d  by  the  French 
,ion.  The  action 
IS  kept  up  for  a 
Monsieur  Jumon- 
,  and  twenty-two 

Janadiau  escaped 

id  two   wounded. 

sent  to  Governor 


above  five  hundrfd  men  in  the  Fort  when  they  left,  but  suppo-ad  ihal 
two  hundred^  had. since  arrived.  Tlie-e  same  deserters  also  stated  as 
Washinglon^said  in  his  letter,  that  Juinonville'a  party  were  sent  out  as 
spies. 

On  the  nth  of  Juno,  Washinfrton,  leavinir  Captain  Mackay  at  Fort 
Necessity,  marclied  witli  his  ir.iops,  intcnd-d  to  advance  to  Redstone. 
After  two  weeks  of  toil  he  reached  Cist's  hum,  only  liiirtocn  miles  from 
Fort  Necessity.  Here  inlormaliou  was  received  that  reinf.»rcoments  had 
arrived  ai  Fort  Diiquesne  from  Canada,  and  'that  a  large  detachment 
would  soon  be  sent  ayainst  the  Enirlish. 


vwvwwvv»-v\-wvwvwvv'v 


i 


s  death  would,  of 

and  Washinsjion, 

n,  set  his  troops  to 

ared  at  the  Great 

on  and  his  follow- 
iber  of  forty  or  fifty 
my  of  one  hundred 
r  had  a  royal  com- 
)n.     He  however, 
n  the  lOlhof  June, 
I's  camp,  and  con- 
!r  sent  from  Logs- 
ares  had  agreed  to 
ters  also  stated  tliat 
that  there  Averenotj 


i 


(CAPTURE  OF  FORT  NECESSITY. 

"  Preparations  for  a  retreat  commenced  immediately.  The  horsea 
were  few,  and  Colonel  Washington  set  a  noble  example  to  thcoHicers,  by 
lading  hia  own  horse  with  ammuuiiiou  and  otiier  public  stores,  leaving 
his  baggage  behind,  and  giving  the  snldiers  four  pistoles  to  carry  it  for- 
ward. Tlie  other  ollieers  followed  his  example.  There  were  nine 
swivels,  which  were  drawn  by  the  soldiers  of  the  V-'-ginia  regiment  over 
a  very  broken  road,  unassisted  by  the  men  belonging  to  tlie  Independent 
Company^  who  refused  to  perform  any  service  of  this  kind.  Nor  would 
they  act  a»  pioneers,  nor  aid  in  transporting  the  public  stores,  considering 
this  a  duty  not  incumbent  upon  them  as  King's  soldiers  This  conduct 
had  a  discouraging  ellect  upon  the  soldiers  of  tlie  Virginia  regiment,  by 
dampening  their  ardor,  and  making  them  more  dissatisfied  with  their  "x- 
treme  fatigue ;  but  the  whole  party  reached  the  Great  Meadows  on  the 
1st  of  July. 

"  It  was  not  the  intention  of  Col.  Washington,  at  first,  to  halt  at  this 
place,  but  his  men  had  become  so  much  fatigued  from  great  labor,  and  a 
deficiency  of  provisions,  that  they  could  draw  the  swivels  no  further, 
nor  carry  baggage  on  their  backs.  They  had  been  eight  days  without 
bread,  and  at  the  Great  Meadows  they  found  only  a  few  bags  of  flour. 
It  was  thought  advisable  to  M'ait  liere,  therefore,  and  fortify  tlicmselves 
in  the  best  manner  they  could,  till  they  should  receive  supplies  and  rein- 
forcements. They  had  heard  of  the  arrival  at  Alexandria  of  two  Inde- 
pendent Companies  from  New  York,  twenty  d'ays  before,  and  it  was 
presumed  they  must  by  this  time  have  reached  WilTs  Creek.  An  express 
was  sent  to  hasten  them  on  with  as  much  dispatch  as  possible. 

"  Meantime  Col.  Washington  set  his  men  to  felling  trees,  and  carrying 
logs  to  the  fort,  with  a  view  to  raise  a  breastwork,  and  enlarge  and 
strengthen  the  fortification  in  the  best  manner  that  circumstances  would 
permit.     The  space  of  ground  called  the  Great  Meadows,  is  a  level  hot- 


r 


•I 


tOhl,  llirotipl)  which  pnsscs  a  siiinll  crtckt  and  it  snrroundrd  hy  hills  of 
a  inodornU-  iiiul  gradual  aacciit.  'I'liis  hottom  or  {jladp,  is  enUrely  level, 
covTrrd  with  loni^  grass  and  small  hushes,  and  varies  in  width.  At  the 
point  where  the  fort  stood  it  is  alxmt  two  hundred  and  lifty  yards  wide, 
from  the  hase  of  one  hill  to  that  of  tiie  opposite.  The  position  of  the  fort 
was  well  chosen,  heing  ahont  one  hundred  yards  from  the  u|)hind  or 
wooded  ground  on  one  side,  and  out;  hundred  and  fifty  on  the  other,  and 
so  situated  on  the  margin  of  the  creek  as  to  afford  an  easy  access  to 
water.  At  one  point  the  high  ground  comes  within  sixty  yards  of  fho 
fort,  and  this  was  the  nearest  di.^lancc  to  which  an  enemy  could  approacii 
under  tho  shelter  of  trees.  Tlu;  outlines  of  the  fort  were  still  visihlo, 
when  the  spot  was  visiti-d  hy  the  writer  in  18,'U),  occupying  an  irregular 
scjuare,  the  diiih-nsiotis  oi"  which  were  ahout  cue  hundred  leet  on  each 
side.  One  of  the  angles  was  prolont;ed  further  than  tlu;  others  for  the 
purpose  of  reaching  the  wa<er  in  the  creek.  On  the  west  side,  next  to 
the  nearest  wood,  were  three  entrances,  protected  by  short  I)re>.stworkfl 
or  bastions.  The  remains  of  a  ditch,  stretching  round  the  south  and  west 
sides,  were  also  distinctly  seen.  'I'he  site  of  this  fort,  named  Fort  Ne- 
cessity from  the  circumstances  attending  its  erection  and  original  use,  is 
three  or  four  hundred  yards  south  of  what  is  now  called  the  National 
Road,  four  miles  from  the  foot  of  Laurel  Hill,  and  fifty  miles  from  Cum- 
berland at  Will's  Creek. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  early  in  the  morning,  an  alarm  was  received  from  a 
sentinel  who  had  been  wounded  by  the  enemy  ;  and  at  nine  X)'clock  in- 
telligence came  that  the  wiiole  body  of  the  enemy,  amounting,  as  was  re- 
ported, to  nine  hundred  men,  was  only  four  miles  oft*.     At  eleven  o'clock 
they  approached  the  fort  and  began  to  fire  at  the  distance  of  six  hundred 
yards  but  without  effect.     Col.  Washington  had  drawn  up  his  men,  on  the 
open  and  level  ground  outside  ol  the  trenches,  waiting  for  the  attack, 
which  he  presumed  would  be  made  as  soon  as  the  enemy's  forces  emerged 
from  the  woods;  and  ordered  his  men  to  reserve  their  fire  till  they  should 
be  near  enough  to  do  execution.     The  distant  firing  was  supposed  to  be  a 
stratagem  to  draw  Washington's  men  into  the  woods,  and  thus  to  take 
ihem  at  a  disadvantage.     He  suspected  the  design,  and  maintained  his    *oayj 
post  till  he  found  the  French  did  not  incline  to  leavathc  woods  and  attack  ^P<*" 
the  fort  by  an  assault,  as  he  supposed  they  would  considering  their  sup-  l'"^^''^ 
eriorty  of  numbers.     He  then  drew  his  men  back"  within  the  trenches   r^^^ 

'  •»«    A'*\ 

and  gave  them  orders  to  fire  according  to  their  discretion,  as  suitable  op-  """'^ 
portunities  might  present  themselves.  The  French  and  Indians  remain-  f  ''j 
ed  on  the  side  of  the  rising  ground,  which  was  nearest  to  the  fort,  and,  f^^^*^ 
sheltered  by  the  trees,  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  of  musketry,  but  never  appear-  «^^® 
cd  in  the  open  plain  below.  The  rain  fell  heavily  through  the  day  the  k*®* 
trenches  were  filled  with  water  and  many  of  the  arms  of  Col.  Washing-  ^  ® 
ton's  men  were  out  of  order,  and  used  with  difficulty.  ''  WentsI 


9 


ed  liy  liills  of 
entirely  lcv«'l, 
M(Uh.     At  the 
y  y:irilH  wi<le, 
tiou()ltl»<^  foi^t 
tiic  upliiiul  or 
tho  oilier,  and 
easy  access  to 
ly  yarils  of  the 
could  approach 
ere  still  visible, 
injr  an  irrcfvular 
i-d   lect  on  each 
;o  otliers  lor  the 
3st  side,  next  to 
lort  brc.stworka 
0  south  and  west 
named  Fort  Nc- 
d  original  use,  is 
led  the  National 
luilcs  from  Cum- 

rcceived  from  a 

nineV clock  in- 

nting,  as  was  re- 

At  eleven  o'clock 

a  of  six  hundred 

p  his  men,  on  the 

ns  for  the  attack, 

forces  emerged 

re  till  they  should 


3C 


••  In  this  way  the  battle  continued  from  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning  till 
eight  at  nijjht  when  the  French  calleil  :ind  requested  a  parley.  Suspceting 
this  to  bo  a  feint  to  procure  the  admission  of  an  officer  into  the  fort,  that 
he  might  discover  their  condition,  C(d.  Washington  at  first  declined  listening 
to  the  proposal,  but  when  the  call  wbs  repeated  with  the  additional  recju  est 
that  an  officer  might  sent  to  them,  engaging  at  the  same  time  their  parole 
for  his  safety,  he  sent  mit  Capt.  Vanbraam,  the  only  person  under  his 
command  that  could  speak  French,  except  the  CJievalicr  de  Peyrouny,  an 
ensign  in  the  Virginia  regiment,  who  was  dangerously  wounded  and  disa- 
bled from  rendering  any  serviec  on  this  occasion.  Vanbraam  ictiirned, 
and  brought  with  him  from  M.  de  Villiers,  the  French  commander,  pro- 
posed articles  of  capitulation.  These  he  read  and  pretended  to  interpret, 
and  some  changes  having  been  made  by  mutual  agreement,  both  parties 
signed  them  about  midnight. 

"By  the  terms  of  the  capitulation,  the  whole  garrison  was  to  retire,  and 
teturp  without  molestation  to  the  inhabited  parts  of  the  country,  and  the 
Frdtlch  commander  promised,  that  no  embarrassment  should  be  interpo- 
sed, either  by  his  own  men  or  the  savages.  The  English  were  to  take 
away  every  thing  in  their  possession,  except  their  artillery,  and  to  march 
out  of  the  fort  the  next  morning  with  the  honors  of  "ar,  their  drums  beat- 
ing and  colors  flying.  As  the  French  had  killed  all  the  horses  and  cattle. 
Colonel  Washington  had  no  means  of  transporting  his  heavy  baggage  and 
stores  ;  and  it  was  conceded  to  him  that  his  men  might  conceal  their 
effects,  and  that  a  guard  might  be  left  to  protect  them  till  horses  could 
be  sent  ap  to  take  them  away.  Colonel  Washington  agreed  to  restore 
the  prisoners  who  had  been  taken  at  the  skirmish  with  Jumonville  ;  and 
as  a  surety  for  this  article  two  hostages.  Captains  Vanbraam  and  Stobo, 
were  delivered  up  to  the  French,  and  were  retained  till  the  prisoners  should 
return.  It  was  moreover  agreed  that  the  party  capitulating  should  not 
attempt  to  build  any  more  establishments  at  that  place,  or  beyond  the 
mountains,  for  the  space  of  a  year. 

Early  the  next  morning  Colonel  Washington  began  to  march  from  the 


ssupposeu  Ifort'in  good  order,  but  he  had  proceeded  only  a  short  distance  when  a 

,  and  thus  fcody  of  one  hundred  Indians,  being  a  reinforcement  to  the  French  came 

^"*  ,    lipon  him,  and  could  hardly  be  restrained  from  attacking  his  men.     They 

^  fiilfered  the  baffgage  and  did  other  mischief.     He  marched  forward,  how- 

sidering  w  i     liver,  with  as  much  speed  as  possible,  in  the  weakened  and  encumbered 

ithin  the  tien  condition  of  his  army,  there  being  no  other  mode  of  conveying  the  woun- 
•ded  men  and  baggage  than  on  the  soldiers'  backs.     As  the  provisions  were 


ion,  as 


suitable  op 


nd  Indians  remain   ^^^^.j^  gxhautited,  no  time  was  to  be  lost ;  and  leaving  much  of  the  bag- 

5st  to  the  fort,  an  ,  t        ^^^.^^^^  j^^  hastened  to  Will's  Creek,  where  all  the  necessary  sup- 

r,  but  never  appear-  g.^^  ^^^^  .^  ^^^^^^    Thence  Col.  Washington  and  Capt  Mackay  proceed- 

Ihrough  the  day     ®  gl  to  Willianasburg,  and  communicated  in  person  to  the  Cover  nor  the 

I  of  Col.  Washing- 1^^^  ^^^^^  campaign." 


Mi 

i 


I- 


5'^ 


ill  I 


1^ 


I 


10 

From  this  time  nothing  of  importance  happened  in  this  quarter  until 
Braddock's  Expedition  in  the  ensuing  year.  Of  his  march  we  find  the 
fullest  and  most  satisfactory  accounts  ever  published,  in  the  Olden  TiriUy 
a  historical  magazine  issued  monthly  m  Pittsburgh. 

•'BRADDOCK'S  MARCH." 

The  first  item  is  a  letter  from  Jared  Sparks,  a  gentleman  who  was- 
selected  to  arrange  the  letters  and  ofticial  papers  of  Washington,  and' 
who  has  devoted  much  time  and  labor,  not  only  in  this  cbuntry,  but  in 
France  and  England  to  tiie  elucidation  of  our  early  history.  His  letter- 
is  as  follows : 

Salem,  Mass.,  Feb.  18  1847: 

Dear  Sir  :— There  is  a  copy  of  the  "  Memorial,"  which  I  believ6  you' 
mentioned,  in  the  Libary  of  Harvard  College,  which  I  believe  is  complete. 
I  sha^l  obtain  it  soon,  and  will  have  the  missing  pages  copied,  and  forward 
to  you  the  manuscript.  I  suppose  you  wish  it  to  be  sefftby  mail.  I  once 
compared  this  translation  with  the  original,  and  found  it  clmnsily^  execu- 
ted, but  the  substance  is  probably  retained. 

Having  heretofore  examined  with  care  the  details  of  Braddock's  expe- 
dition, I  am  persu^aded  that  the  following,  as  far  as  it  goes  is  a  correct  ac- 
count of  his  march  from  Gist's  plantation.  •  ;  :  . 

On  the  30th  of  June  the  army  forded  the  You^hiogheny  at  Stewart's* 
Crossings,  and  then  passed  a  rough  road  over  a  mountain.  A  few  miles 
onward  they  came  to  a  great  swamp,  which  detained  them  part  of  a  day 
in  clearing  a  rOad.  They  next  advanced  to  Salt  Lick  Creek,  now  called* 
Jacob's  Creek,  where  a  councd  of  war  was  held,  on  the  3d  of  July,  to 
consider  a  suggestion  of  Sir  John  St.  Clair,  that  Col.  Dunbar's  detach- 
ment should  be  ordered  to  join  the  main  body.  This  proposal  was  re- 
jected, on  the  ground  that  Dunbar  could  not  join  them  in  less  than  thirteen 
d-rys;  that  this  would  cause  such  a  consumption  of  provisions  as  to  render 
it  necessary  to  bring  forward  another  convoy  from  Fort  Cumberland;  and 
that  in  the  mean  time  the  French  might  be  strengthened  by  a  reinforcement 
which  was  daily  expected  at  Fort  Duquesne — and  moreover;  th«  two  di- 
visions could  not  move  together  after  their  junction.  ■'  "' 

On  the  4th  the  army  again   marched,  and  advanced  to  Turtle  Creek,   ^^^ 
about  twelve  miles  from  its  mouth,  where  they  arrived  on  the  7th  itist.     i    ^^^^ 
suppose  th'  r  to  have  been  the  eastern  branch,  or  what  is  now  called  Brusli    ^"^ 
Creek,  and  that  the  place  at  which  they  encamped  was  a  short  distance    ^'^^ 
northerly  from  the  present  village  of  Stewartsville.     It  was  Gen.  Brad-    "^'J^ 
docks  intention  to  cross  Turtlie  Creek,  and  approach  Fort  Duquesne  on  not   I 
the  other  side;  but  thebahks  were  so  precipitous,  and  presented  sucii  tencatl 
obstacles  to  crossing  with  his  artillery  and  heavy  baggage,  that  he  hesita-       ^  sl 
ted,  and  Sir  John  St.  Clair  went  out  with  a  party  to  reconnoitre.     On  his  '^^  *^ 
return  before  night,  he  reportetl  that  he  had  found  the  ridge  which  led  tcf^^" 

N 


Til 


quarter  until 
1  we  find  Uie 
Otden  Timer 


lan  who  was 
ishington,  antV 
country'  but  in 
ry.     His  letter- 

'EB.  18  1847: 
•h  I  believ6  you' 
eve  is  complete, 
icd,  and  forward 
by  mail.  I  once 
cltrmsily-  exeeu- 

iraddock's  expe- 
Bs  is' a  correct  ac- 


i 


eny  at  Stewart's' 
in.     A  few  miles 
lem  part  of  a  day 
J  reek,  now  called' 
Ihe  3d  of  July,  to 
Dunbar's  dcthch- 
proposal  was  re- 
n  less  than  thirteen 
isions  as  to  render 
t  Cumberland;  and 
by  a  reinforcement 
(reover;  iH«  two  di- 

to  Turtle  Creek, 
onthe  7th  itist.     1 
is  now  called  Brush 
iras  a  short  distance 
It  was  Gen.  Brad- 
Fort  Duquesne  on 
and  presented  such 
•gage,  that  he  hesita- 
econnoitre.     On  his 
,e  ridge  which  led  t( 


n 

Fort  Diiquesne,  but  that  considerable  work  would  be  necessary  to  prepare 
a  road  for  prossing  Turtle  Creek.  This  route  was  finally  abandoned  rnfl 
on  the  8th  the  army  marched  eight  miles  and  encamped  not  far  from  the 
Mnnongahela,  west  of  the  Youghiogheny,  and  near  what  is  called  in  an 
old  map,  "Sugar  Run."  When  Braddock  reached  tiiis. place,  it  was  his 
besign  to  pass  through  the  narrows,  but  he  was  informed  by  the  guides, 
who  had  been  sent  out  to  explore,  that  the  passage  was  very  difficult, 
about  two  miles  in  length,  with  a  river  on  the  left  and  a  high  mountain  on 
the  right,  and  that  much  work  must  be  done  to  make  it  passable  for  car- 
riages. At  the  same  time  he  was  told  that  (Iicre  were  two  good  fords 
across  the  Monongahela,  where  the  water  was  shallow  and  the  banks  not 
steep.  "With  these  views  of  the  case,  he  determined  to  cross  the  fords  the 
next  morning.  The  order  of  march  was  given  out,  and  all  the  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  an  early  movement. 

About  eight  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  the  advanced  division 
under  (j|ol.  Gage  crossed  the  ford  and  pushed  forward.  After  the  whole 
army  had  crossed  and 'marched  about  a  mile,  Braddock  received  a  note 
from  Col.  Gage,  giving  notice  that  he  had  passed  tjie  second  ford  without 
difricuhy.  A  little  before  two  o'clock  the  whole  army  had  crossed  this 
ford,  and  was  arranged  in  the  order  of  march  on  the  plain  near  Frazier's 
house.  Gage  with  the  advanced  parly  was  then  ordered  to  march,  and 
while  main  body  was  yet  standifig  on  the  plain,  the  action  began  near  the 
river.     Not  a  single  man  of  the  enemy  had  before  been  seen. 

The  distance,  by  the  line  of  march,  from  Stevvart's  Crossing  to  Turtle 
Creek,  or  Brush  Creek  was  about  thirty  miles.  At  this  point  the  route 
was  changed  almost  to  a  right  angle  in  marching  to  the  Monongaiiela. 
The  encampment  was  probably  two  or  three  miles  from  the  bank  of  the 
river,  for  Colonel  Gage  marched  at  the  break  of  day,  and  did  not  cross 
the  ford  till  eight  o'clock.  During  the  whole  march  from  the  Great 
Meadows,  the  pickets  and  sentinels  were  frequently  assailed  by  scouting 
parties  of  French  and  Indians,  and  several  men  were  killed.  Mr.  Gist 
acted  as  the  General's  guide.  <  ;  i 

On  the  4th  of  .July  two  Indians  went  out  to  reconnoitre  the  country 
towards  Fort  Duquesne  ;  and  Mr.  Gist  also  on  the  same  day,  in  a  different 
direction.  They  were  gone  two  days,  and  all  came  ni  sight  of  the  fort, 
but  brought  back  no  important  intelligence.  The  Indians  -contrived  to 
kill  and  scalp  a  French  officer,  whom  they  found  shooting  within  half  a 
mile  of  the  fort. 

The  army  seldom  marcljed  more  than  six  miles  a  day,  and  commonly 
not  so  much.     From  Stewart's  Crossing  to  Turtle  Creek,  there  were  six 
,encampments.     During  one  day  the  army  halted. 

I  shall  be  much  pleased  to  see  Mr.  Atkinson's  map.  His  knowledge 
'Of  the  gronnd  wili  enable  him  to  delineate  Braddock's  route  much  moie 
iiaccurately  than  it  can  be  don6  from  any  sources  now  attainable. 

»  oi-        ^f  ii__ T 1  r>i.^rk  c<n  A 


I  am.  Sir,  respectfully  yours, 
Neville  B.  Craig»  Esq.,  Pittsburgh. 


JARKD  SPARKS, 


j^csa^ 


12 


c^l 


fii; 


^ 


The  next  article  is  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Thos.  C.  Atkinson*  a  ge«lle-. 
man  lately  employed  as  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Pittsburgh  and  Connelsville 
Rail  Road  Company  along  the  Youighiogheny  river.  His  home  is  at 
Cumberland,  and  his  duties  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Rail  Road,  had 
previously  afforded  him  opportunities  of  indulging  an  enthusiastic  taste 
for  our  early  history,  in  tracing  the  march  of  Braddock  in  Maryland  and 
Virginia.  His  recent  emplojrment  along  the  Yonghiogheny  enabled  him 
to  complete  his  task  in  pursuing  the  rout  of  Braddock  to  its  fatal  termi- 
nation on  the  Monongahela  river.  His  article  is  a  valuable  and  interest- 
ing addition  to  onr  early  history,  and  is  the  more  reliable  because  all  his 
conclusions  had  been  arrived  at  from  obseiVcttions  on  the  ground,  l),efare 
he  had  seen  Mr.  Sparks'  letter,  which  fully  sustains  them  : 

BRADDOCK'S  ROUTE  TO  THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  MONON- 
GAHELA. 

The  interest  with  which  the  routes  of  celebrated  expeditions  are  re- 
garded, and  the  confusion  which  attends  them  after  the  lapse  o§ years, 
is  well  exemplified  in  the  case  of  Hannibal,  whose  march  towards  Rome, 
in  order  to  divert  their  army  from  the  seige  of  Capua,  was  totally  lost  in 
the  course  of  a  few  centuries.  The  constant  blunders  of  Livy  in  copying 
first  from  one  writer,  and  then  from  another  who  made  him  take  a  differ- 
ent path,  justify  a  recent  English  historian  who  went  to  Italy  to  see  the 
ground  for  himsslf,  in  saying  that  the  Pdnic  War  was  almost  as  hard  in 
the  writing  as  the  fighting. 

As  the  time  is  coming  when  the  ro ad  by  which  the  unfortunate  Brad- 
dock marched  to  his  discstrous  field,  vmU  be  mvested  with  antiquarian 
interest,  akin  to  that  attending  Hannibal  f>  route,  or  rather  the  via  scelerata, 
by  which  the  Fabian  family  marched  out  of  Rome.  I  have  thought  it 
time  not  idly  spent  to  attempt  to  pursue  its  scattered  traces  as  fur  as  it  is 
in  ray  power,  among  more  pressing  occupations.  In  this  sketch,  I  do 
not  design  to  pursue  it  to  its  extent,  but  only  to  identify  it  in  those  parts, 
where  it  has  been  convenient  for  mo  to  visit  it,  and  in  others  to  shadow 
out  its  general  direction.  Where  it  is  obscure,  I  hope  to  have  opportu- 
nities to  examine  it  at  a  future  day. 

Of  the  well  conducted  expedition  of  Col.  Bouquet,  and  its  precise  path, 
the  publications  of  Mr.  Hutchins,  thrt  geographer,  who  was  one  of  the 
engineers,  leaves  us  very  well  informed.  It  is  presumable  that  similar 
details  would  be  found  of  the  march  of  1755  if  it  had  had  a  successful 
termination.  The  three  engineers  who  were  in  the  field  were  wounded ; 
and  it  is  probable  their  papers  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  or  were 
lost  in  the  flight. 

General  Braddock  landed  at  Al  xandria  on  the  20th  February,  1755. 
The  selection  of  this  port  for  the  debarkation  of  the  troops,  was  censured 
at  the  time,  thmigb  it  is  probrjble  it  had  the  approval  of  Washington. 


t 


13 


son*  a  gefttle- 
L  Connelsville 
8  home  is  at 
,ail  Road,  had 
husiastic  taste 
Mai-yland  and 
jr  enabled  him 
Its  faUl  termi- 
e  and  interest- 
because  all  h>9 
ground,  ij^fare 

l: 

IE  MONON- 

leditions  are  re- 
.  lapse  o§  years, 
1  towards  Rome, 
as  totally  lost  in 
Livy  in  copying 
im  take  a  differ- 
Italy  to  see  the 
Imost  as  hard  in 

infortunate  Brad- 
with  antiquarian 
|the  via  scelerata, 
have  thought  it 
Ices  as  far  as  it  is 
|this  sketch,  I  do 
it  in  those  parts, 
jthers  to  shadow 
to  have  opportu- 

|d  its  precise  path, 
]o  was  one  of  the 

lable  that  similar 

had  a  successful 

|ld  were  wounded ; 

^e  enemy,  or  were 

February,  1755. 
)ops,  was  censured 
ll  of  Washington. 


The  two  rcgimeiats  he  brought  with  bim  were  very  defective  in  numbers, 
having  but  about  500  men  each,  and  it  was  expected  their  ranks  would 
be  recruited  in  America.  It  is  shown  by  the  repeated  requests  on  this 
point  made  by  the  General  at  Cumberland,  that  this  expectation  was 
vain.  After  numerous  delays,  and  a  conference  with  the  Royal  Govern- 
ors, we  find  Gen.  Braddock  en  route  on  the  34th  of  April,  when  he  had 
reached  Fredericktown,  in  Maryland.  Passing  thence  through  Win- 
chester, Va.,  he  reached  Fort  Cumberland  about  the  9th  of  May.  Sir 
John  Sinclair,  Deputy  Quarter  Ma$iei  General  had  preceded  him  to  this 
point  about  two  weeks.* 

The  army  struck  the  Little  Cacapehon,  (though  pronounced  Cacapon, 
I  have  used  for  the  occasion  the  spelling  of  Washington,  and  various  old 
documents,)  about  six  miles  above  its  mouth,  and  following  the  stream, 
encamped  on  the  Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac,  preparatory  to  crossing 
into  Maryland.  The  water  is  supposed  tohavebeen  high  at  the  time,  as 
the  spot  is  known  as  the  Ferry-fields,  from  the  army  having  been  ferried 
over.     This  was  about  the  4th  or  5th  of  May. 

The  army  thence  pursued  the  banks  of  the  river,  with  a  slight  devia- 
tion of  route  at  the  mouth  of  the  South  Bianch,  to  the  village  of  Old 
Town,  known  at  that  time  as  the  Shawnee  Old  Town,  modern  use  hav- 
ing dropped  the  most  characteristic  part  of  the  name.  This  place,  distan- 
ced about  eight  miles  from  the  Ferry-fields,  was  known  at  thatearly  day  at 
the  residence  of  Col.  Thomas  Cresap,  an  English  settler,  and  the  father 
of  the  hero  of  Logan's  speech.  The  road  proceeded  thence  parallel  with 
the  river  and  at  the  foot  of  the  hills,  till  it  passed  the  narrows  of  Will's 
Mountain,  whence  it  struck  out  a  shorter  line  coincident  with  the  present 
county  road,  and  lying  between  the  rail  road  and  the  mountain,  to  Fort 
Cumberland. 

From  the  Little  Cacapehon  to  this  point  the  ground  was  comparative- 
ly easy,  and  the  road  had  been  generally  judiciously  chosen.  Thence- 
forward the  character  of  the  ground  was  altered,  not  so  much  in  the  gen- 
eral aspect  of  the  country,  as  that  the  march  was  about  to  abandon  the 
valleys,  and  now  the  real  difficulties  of  the  expedition  may  be  said  to 

commence. 
The  fort  had  been  commenced  the  previous  year,  after  the  surrender 

•Many  misstatements  are  prevalent  in  the  country  adjacent  to  the  line  of  march 
especially  east  of  Cumberland,  the  traditionary  name  of  Braddock's  route  being  often 
applied  to  routes  we  know  he  did  not  pursue.       It  is  probable  the  ground  of  the  appli- 
cation consists  in  their  having  been  used  by  the  Quarter  Master's  men  in  bringing 
on  those  Pennsylvania  wagons  and  pack  horses  procured  by  Dr.  Franklin,  with  so  much 
trouble  «n,d  at  so  great  expense  of  truth.    Sir  John  Sinclair  wore  a  Hussar's  cap,  and 
Franklin  made  use  of  the  circumstance  to  terrify  the  German  settlers  with  the  belief 
that  he  was  a  Hussar  who  would  administer  to  them  the  tyrannical  treatment  they  had 
experienced  in  their  own  country,  if  they  did  not  comply  with  his  wishes.    It  is  singu- 
lar that  a  small  brook  and  an  obscure  country  road  in   Berkley  County,  Va.,  bear  the 
name  of  Sir  John's  Run,  and  Sir  John's  Road,  supposed  to  be  taken  from  the  name  of  this 
officer. 


# 


14 


.1 


;i 


(■> 


i.i 


'■I 
II, 

•0 


p 


at  the  Great  Meadows,  by  Col.  Inncs,'  who  had  with  him  the  two  inde- 
pendent companies  of  New  York  and  South  Csrolina.  It  mounted  ten 
four  pounders;  besides  swivels,  and  was  Tivorably  situated  to  keep  the 
hostile  Indians  in  chock.* 

The  armv  now  consisted  of  1000  regulars,  30  sadors,  and  1200  pro- 
vincials, besides  a  train  of  artillery.  The  provincial?  were  from  New 
York  and  Virginia;  one  company  from  the  former  colony  was  command- 
ed-by  Cap,  Gates,  afterwards  the  hero  of  Saratoga.  On  the  8th  of  June, 
Braddock  having,  through  t!ie  interest  and  exertions  of  Dr.  Franklin,  prin- 
cipally, got  150  wagons  and  2000  horses  from  Pennsyi/ania,  was  ready 
to  march.  <  - 

Scarooclaya,  successor  to  the  Half-King  of  the  Senecas,  and  Monaca- 
tootha,  whose  acquaintance  Washington  had  made  on  the  Ohio,  on  his 
mission  to  Le  Bccuf,  with  about  150  Indians,  vSenecas  and  Dclawares,  ac- 
companied him.  Gcorrre  ('roghan,  the  Indian  Agent  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  a  friendly  Indian  of  great  value,  called  Susquehanna  Jack,  were  also 
with  him. 

The  first  brigade  under  Sir  Peter  Halkct,  led  the  way  on  the  8th,  and 
on  the  9lh  tiie  main  body  followed.  Some  idea  of  the  difficulties  they 
encountered,  may  be  had  when  we  pi  rceive  they  spent  the  third  night 
only  five  miles  from  the  first.  The  place  of  encampment,  .which  is  about 
one  third  of  a  mile  from  the  toll-gate  on  the  Nalioiial  Road,  is  marked  by 
a, copious  spring  bearing  Brarldock's  name. 

For  reasons  not  easy  to  divine,  the  route  across  Will's  Mountain  firgt 
adopted  for  the  National  Road  was  selected,, instead  of  the  more  lavorable 
one  through  the  narrows  of  Will's  Creek,  to  which  the  road  has  been 
changed  within  a  few  years,  for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  that  formidable 
ascejiit.  The  traces  are  very  distinct  on  the  east  and  w;est  slopes,  the 
modern  road  crossing  it  frequently.  From  the  western  foot,  the  route 
continued  up  Braddock's  Run  to  the  forks^  of  the  stream,,  where  Clary's 
tavern  |(iow  stands,  9  miles  from  Cumberland,  when  it  tu,rned  to  the  left, 
in  order  to  reach  a  point  on  the  ridgt.  favorable  to  an  easy  descent  into 
the  valley  of  George's  Creek.  It  is  surprising  that  having  reached, this 
high  ground,  the  favorable  spur  by  which  the  National  Road  accomplish- 
es the  ascent  of  the  Great  Savage  Mountain,  did  not  strike  the  attention 
of  the  engineers,  as  the  labor  requisite  to  surmount  the  barrier  from  the 
deep  valley  of  George's  Creek,  must  have  contributed  greatly  to  those 
bitter  complaints  which  Braddock  made  against  the  Colonial  Governments 
for  their  failure  to  assist  him  more  elTectively  in  the  transportation  de- 
parUnent.  ^  -    •     . 

•The  original  name  of  Ciimbeiland  was  Ciicucbetiic,  and  from  its  favorable  position 
on  the  Potomac,  it  was  most  probably  the  site  of  a  bhawnee  village,  like  Old-tow  n; 
moreover,  it  was  marked  by  an  Indian  name,  a  rare  occurrence  in  this  vicinity,  if  any 
judgment  may  be  drawn  from  the  few  ;hat  ha\  o  been  preserved. 


th( 
the 
nol 


was 

hen 

blat 

info 

villff 

and 

plac 


15 


the  two  inde- 
It  momUed  ten 
;ed  to  keep  the 

and  1200  pro- 
?re  from  New 
was  command- 
he  8th  of  June, 
Franklin,  prin- 
ania,  was  ready 

isi  and  ATonaca- 
he  Ohio,  on  his 
1  Ddawares,  ac- 
)f  Pennsylvania, 
I  Jack,  were  also 

r  on  the  8th,  and 
difficulties  they 
nt  the  third  night 
it,  which  is  about 
)ad,  is  marked  by 

s  Mountain  first 
e  more  lavorable 

he  road  has  been 

tf  that  formidable 
vvest  slopes,  the 
n  foot,  the  route 

n,.  .where  Clary',8 
turned  to  the  left, 
easv  descent  into 
ving  reached  jthis 
Road  aecomplish- 
Lrike  the  attention 
3  barrier  from  the 
id  greatly  to  those 
inial  Governments 
transportation  de- 
its  favorable  position 
iage,  like   Old^town; 
n  this  vicinity,  if  any 


Passing  then  a  mile  to  the  south  of  Frostburg,  the  road  approaches  Ihs 
eaat  foot  of  tSavago  Mountain,  wliich  it  crosses  about  one  mi!e  south  of 
the  National  road,  and  thence  oy  very  favorable  ground  through  the 
dense  forests  of  white  pine  peculiar  to  this  region,  it  got  to  the  norh  of 
the  National  Roadi  near  the  gloonvy  tract  called  the  Shades  of  Death. 
This  was  the  JStli  of  June,  when  (he  dense  gloom  of  the  summer  woods, 
and  the  favorable  shelter  which  these  enormous  pines  would  give  an  In- 
dian enemy,  u»usihave  made  a  most  sensible  impression  on  all  minds,  of 
the  insecurity  of  their  mode  of  advance. 

This  doubtless  had  its  share  in  causing  the  council  of  war  held  at  the 
Little  Meadows*  the  next  day.  To  this  place,  distant  only  about  twenty 
miles  from  Cumberland,  Sir  John  Sinclair  and  Miij.  Chapman  had  been 
dispatched  on  the  27th  of  May,  to  build  a  fort;  the  army  having  been  7 
days  in  reaching  it,  it  follows  as  the  lino  of  march  was  upwards  of 
three  miles  long,  the  rear  was  just  getting  under  way  when  the  advance 
were  lighting  their  evening  fires.  .-  .       .  ,. 

Here  it  may  be  well  enough  to  clear  up  an  obscurtty  which,  enters- 
into  many  narratives  of  these  early  events,  from  conlusiniif  the  names  of 
the  Little  Meadows  and  Great  Meadows,  Little  Crossings  and  Great 
Crossings,  which  are  all  distinct  localities. 

The  Little  Meadows  have  been  described  as  at  the  foot  of  Meadovv^ 
Mountain  ;  it  is  well  to  note  that  .he  Great  Afradows  are  about  31  miles 
further  west,  and  near  the  cast  foot  of  Laurel  Hill.  •  , 

By  the  Little  Crossings  is  meant  the  Ford  of  Casselrrmn's  Hirer,  a' 
tributary  of  the  Youghiogheny ;  and  by  the  Great  Crossings,  thepassagc' 
of  the  Ybughiogheny  itself.  The  Little  Crossing  is  2  miles  west  of  the- 
Little  Meadows,  and  the  Great  Crossing  17  rnih^s  further  west. 

The  conchision  of  the  council  was  to  push  on  with  a  picked  force  of 
1200  men  ;  and  12  pieces  of  cannon,  and  (he  line  of  march,  now  more' 
compact,  was  resumed  on  the  I9tli.  Passing  over  ground  to  the  south  of' 
the  Little  Crossings,  and  of  the  village  of  Grantsville,  whrch  it  skirted, 
the  army  spent  the  night  of  the  21st  at  the  Bear  Camp,  a  locality  I  have' 
not  been  able  to  identify,  but  suppose  it  to  be  about  midway  to  the  Grealr' 

*  This  interesiin;^  locality  lies  tu  the  west  foot  of  the  Meadow  Mountain,  which  is  one- 
of  the  most  important  of  the  Allegheny  Ridses.  in  Pennsylvania  especially;  where  it  con  ■ 
siilutes  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  eastern  and  western  waters.     A  nuie  entrench- 
ment, about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  Inn  on  the  National  Road    kept  by  3!r.  Huddleson,- 
marks  the  site  ot  this  fort.     This  is  most  probably  the  field  oi'  a  skirmish  spoken  of  iir 
frontier  history,  between  a  Mr.  Paris,  with  a  scoutinn  party  from  Foit  Cumberland,  nncV 
the  Sieur  Donville, commanding  sonie  Fiench  and  Indians,  in  which  the  French  oliicei' 
was  slain.     The  tradition  is  distinctly  preserved  in  t!  e  vicinity,  with   a  misappre- 
hension of  Washington's  participation  in  it,  arising  probably  from  the  partial  res^em^' 
biance  between  the  names  of  Donville  and  Jumonvillo.     Fiom  the  posiliveness  ofthft- 
inforrhation,  in  regar'.  to  the  battle  ground,  conflicting  with  what  we  know  of  Jumou- 
ville'8  death,  it  seems  probable  enough  that  this  was  the  scene  of  this  Indian  skirmish  ;.' 
and  as  such,  it  possesses  a  classic  interest,  valuable  in  piojmriion  to  the  scarcity  ol  sucV- 
places.     For  a  notice  of  Moii.  Uonville's  death,  sec  \ui.  I,  p,ii;e  J'),  Ol'lcii  Time. 


16 


Vi 


Drossings,  wliicli  it  reached  on  the  '23d.  The  route  thence  to  the  Great 
Meadows  or  Fort  Necessity,  was  well  chosen,  though  over  a  mountain- 
VU3  tract,  conforming  very  nearly  to  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  Na- 
tional Road,  and  keeping  on  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  waters  flow- 
ing into  the  Youghiogheny  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  Cheat  River  on  the 
other.  Having  crossed  ihe  Youghiogheny,  we  ate  now  on  the  classic 
ground  of  Washington's  early  career,  where  the  skirmish  with  Jumon- 
ville,  and  Fort  Necessity,  indicate  the  country  laid  open  for  them  in  the 
previous  yeat.  About  one  mile  west  of  the  Great  Meadows,  and  near 
the  «pot  now  marked  as  Braddock's  Grave,  the  road  struck  off  more  to 
the  nbrtli-weist,  in  order  to  reach  a  pass  through  Laurel  Hill,  that  wo\ild 
'€nabl^them  to  strike  the  Youghiogheny,  at  a  point  afterwards  known  as 
Stewart's  Crossing,  and  about  half  a  mile  below  the  present  town  of  Con* 
nellsville.  This  part  of  the  route  is  marked  by  the  farm  known  as 
Mount  Braddock.  This  second  crossing  of  the  Youghitigheny  was  ef- 
fected On  the  30th  of  Jfune.  The  high  gtounds  intervening  between  th6 
river  and  its  next  tributary,  Jacob's  Creek,  though  trivial  in  comparison 
with  what  they  had  already  passed,  it  may  be  supposed,  presented  serious 
obstacle^  to  the  troops,  worn  out  with  previous  exeHions.  On  the  3d  of 
July  a  council  of  war  was  held  at  Jacob's  Creek,  to  consider  the  proprie- 
ty of  bringing  forward  Col.  DuVibar  with  the  reserve,  and  although  urged 
by  Sir  John  Sinclair  with,  as  one  may  suppose,  his  characteristic  vehei- 
mence,  the  measure  was  rejected  on  sufficient  grounds.  From  the  cross-" 
ing  of  Jacob's  Creek,  which  was  at  the  point  where  Welchhanse's  Mill 
now  stands,  about  I5  miles  below  Mount  Pleasant,  the  route  stretched  off 
to  the  horth>  crossing  the  Mount  Pleasant  turnpike  near  the  village  of  the 
Bame  name,  and  thence  by  a  more  westerly  course,  passing  the  Great 
Sewickley  near  i*ainter's  Salt  Works,  thence  south  and  west  of  the  Post 
Office  of  Madison  and  Jacksonville,  it  reached  the  Brush  Fork  of  Turtle 
Oreek.  It  must  strike  those  who  exr^mine  the  map,  that  the  route  for 
some  distance,  in  the  rear  and  ahead  of  Mount  Pi^sant,  is  out  of  the 
proper  direction  for  Fort  Dnquesne,  and  accordingly  we  find  on  the  tth 
y)f  July,  Gen.  Braddock  in  doubt  as  to  his  proper  way  of  proceeding!,— 
The  crossing  of  Brush  Creek  which  he  had  now  reached,  appeared  to  be 
attended  with  so  much  hazard,  that  parties  were  sent  to  reconnoitre,  some 
of  whom  advanced  so  far  as  to  kill  a  French  officer  within  half  a  mile  of 
FortDuquesnj. 

Their  examinations  induced  a  great  divergence  to  the  left-,  and  availing 
"himself  of  the  valley  of  Long  Run,  which  he  turned  into,  as  is  supposed 
at  Stewarts ville,  passing  by  the  place  now  known  as  Samson's  Mill,  the 
army  made  One  of  the  best  marches  of  the  campaign,  and  halted  for  the 
night  at  a  favoirable  depression  between  that  stream  and  Crooked  Run, 
and  about  two  miles  from  the  Monongahela.  At  this  spot,  about  four 
miles  from  the  battle  ground,  which  is  yet  well  known  as  Braddock's 


I 
I 


*     *In 

^o  per 

cates 

whose 

a  rarit 

Com  pi 

iitn  w 

Mr.  Ji 

dential 

^qsectal 

Jy  mar 


t 


17 


I 


I  to  the  Greal 
r  a  mountain" 
ied  by  the  Na- 
B  waters  floW'^ 
t  River  on  the 
on  the  classic 
with  Jomon- 
or  them  in  the 
ows,   and  near 
jck  oflF  more  to 
ill,  that  wolild 
rards  known  as 
nt  town  of  Con* 
arm  known  as 
igheny  was  ef- 
ing  between  th6 
al  in  comparison 
resented  serious 
i.     On  the  3d  of 
ider  the  propvi6- 
[1  although  urged 
iracteristic  vehe*- 
From  the  cross- 
elchhanse's  Mill 
3ute  stretched  off 
Lhe  village  of  the 
ssing  the   Great 
west  of  the  Post 
Fork  of  Turtle 
hat  the  route  fot 
,,  is  out  of  the 
e  find  on  the  ^th 
)f  jiroceedingii— 
d,  appeared  to  be 
econnoitre,  some 
lin  half  a  mile  of 


left,  and  availing 
I,  as  is  supposed, 
amson's  Mill,  the 
md  halted  for  the 
nd  Crooked  Run, 
spot,  about  four 
n  as  Braddock'fl 


Spring,  he  was  rejoined  by  Washington  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  of 
July. 

The  approach  to  the  river  was  now  down  the  valley  of  Crooked  Ran 
to  its  mouth,  wbero  the  point  of  fording  is  still  manifest,  from  a  deep 
notch  in  the  west  bank,  though  rendered  somewhat  obscure  by  the  impro- 
ved navigation  of  the  river.  The  advance,  under  Col.  Gage,  crossed 
about  8  o'clock,  and  continued  by  the  foot  of  the  hill  borderinjr  the  broad 
river  bottom  to  the  second  fording,  which  he  had  effected  nearly  as  soon 
as  the  rear  had  got  through  the  first.  ? 

The  sejond  and  last  fording  nearthe mouth  of  Turtle  Creek,  was  in  full 
view  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  about  one  mile  distant.  ,  By  1  o'clock 
the  whole  army  had  gained  the  risrht  bank,  and  was  drawn  up  on  the 
bottom  land,  near  Frazier's  house,  (spoken  of  by  Washington,  as  his 
stopping  place,  on  his  mission  to  Lo  Boeuf,)  and  about  three  fourths  of  a 
mile  distant  from  the  ambuscade. 

The  advance  was  now  about  to  march,  and  while  a  part  of  the  army 
was  yet  standing  on  the  plain,  the  firing  was  heard.  Not  an  enemy  had 
yet  been  seen. 

As  I  have  now  traced  the  expedition  to  the  scene  of  the  disaster,  I  re- 
fer those  who  are  interested  in  the  particulars  of  the  battle,  to  the  previous 
numbers  of  the  Olden  Time.*  A. 


'W\'VV\'W\>W\'V«A'W\'V%/\'W\ 


Having  now  conducted  Braddock  and  his  arn  y  to  the  field  of  their 
destruction,  it  only  remains  ihat  we  should  give  full  accounts  of  that 
affair. 

"THE  DEFEAT." 
We  give  first  a  letter  from  Captain  Orme,  one  of  the  General's  aids  : 
"  Dear  Sir.  I  am  extremely  ill  in  bed  with  the  wound  I  have  received 
in  my  thigh,  so  that  I  am  under  the  necessity  of  employing  my  friend,  Capt. 
Dobson,  10  write  for  me.  I  conclude  you  have  had  some  account  of  ihe 
action  near  the  banks  of  the  Monongahela.  about  seven  miles  from  the 
French  fort.  As  the  reports  spread  are  v(;ry  imperfect,  what  you  have 
heard  must  consequently  be  so  too.     Yor,  should  have  he«rd  more  early 


*In  reviewing  the  roads  used  by  the  pioneers  over  the  Alleghenies,  it  is  surprising 
to  perceive  how  correctly  the  Indians  had  selected  the  most  i'avoruble  passes,  and  indi- 
cates an  extensive  acquaintance  with  that  nigged  region.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Jacobs, 
whose  little  boo':  in  delience  of  Col.  Cresap,  against  the  charge  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  is  quite 
a  rarity,  states  as  a  fact  that  an  Indian  named  Nemacolin  was  employed  by  the  Ohio 
Company  to  mark  out  the  best  road  across  the  mountains,  and  that  the  path  shown  by 
nim  was  afterwards  widened  by  the  Company,  and  still  further  improved  by  Braddock. 
Mr.  Jacobs  having  married  the  widow  of  Col.  Cresap,  and  having  also  been  his  confi- 
dential clerk  from  his  boyhood,  his  statements  have  an  authenticity  apart  from  his  re* 
vpectable  character.  Nemacolin  was  a  Delaware,  and  his  son  lived  in  the  Cresap  fami- 
ly many  years. 

3 


4 


18 


mi 


W 


accounts  of  it,  but  every  officer  whose  buisness  it  was  (o  have  informed 
you  was  either  killed  or  wounded,  and  our  distressful  situation  put  it  our 
of  our  power  to  attend  to  it  so  much  as  we  would  otherwise  have  done. 
The  9th  inst.  wc  passed  and  re-passed  the  Mononifaliela  by  advancing  first 
a  party  of  three  hundred  men,  which  was  immediately  followed  by  another 
ot  two  hundred.  The  General  with  the  column  of  artillery,  baggafre,  and 
main  body  of  the  army,  passed  the  river  the  last  time  about  one  o'clock. 
As  soon  as  the  whole  had  got  on  the  fort  side  ot  the  Monongahela  we  heard 
a  very  heavy  and  quick  fire  in  our  front.  We  immediately  advanced  in 
ord^r  to  sustain  them,  but  the  detachments  of  two  hundred  and  three  hund- 
red men  gave  way  and  fell  back  upon  us,  which  caused  such  confusion  and 
struck  so  great  panic  among  our  men,  that  afterwards  no  military  expedi- 
ent could  be  made  use  of  that  had  any  effect  upon  them.  The  men  were 
so  extremely  deaf  to  the  exhortation  of  the  General  and  the  officers,  that 
they  fired  away  in  the  most  irregular  manner  all  their  ammunition,  and 
then  ran  ofT,  leaving  to  the  enemy  the  artillery,  ammunition,  provisions  and 
baggage  ;  nor  could  they  be  persuaded  to  stop  till  they  got  as  far  as  Gist's 
plantation,  nor  there,  only  in  part  ;  many  of  them  proceeded  as  far  as 
Col.  Dunbar's  party,  who  lay  six  miles  on  this  side.  The  oflficers  were 
absolutely  sacrificed  by  their  unparalleled  good  behaviour,  advancing 
sometimes  in  bodies  and  sometimes  separately;  hoping  by  such  example  to 
engage  the  soldiers  to  follow  them,  but  to  no  purpose.  The  General 
had  five  horses  killed  under  him,  and  at  last  received  a  wound  through 
the  right  arm,  into  the  lungs,  of  which  he  died  on  the  13lh  inst.  Poor 
Shirley  was  shot  through  the  head  ;  Captain  Morris  wounded.  Mr. 
Washington  had  two  horses  shot  under  him,  and  his  clothes  shot  through 
in  several  places,  behaving  the  whole  time  with  the  greatest  courage  and 
resolution.  Sir  Peter  Halket  was  killed  upon  the  spot ;  Col.  Burton 
and  Sir  John  St.  Clair  wounded,  and  enclosed  I  have  sent  you  a  list  of 
killed  and  wounded,  according  to  as  exact  an  account  as  we  are  yet  able 
to  get.  Upon  our  proceeding  with  the  whole  convoy  to  the  Little 
Meadows  it  was  found  impracticable  to  advance  in  that  manner.  The 
General,  therefore,  advanced  with  twelve  hundred  men,  with  the  necessary 
artillery,  ammunition  and  provisions,  leaving  the  main  body  of  the  convoy 
under  the  comipand  of  Col.  Dunbar,  with  orders  to  join  him  as  soon  as 
possible.  In  this  manner  ^e  proceeded  with  safety  and  expedition,  till 
the  fatal  day  I  have  just  related  ;  and  happy  it  was  that  this  disposition 
was  made,  otherwise  the  whole  must  either  have  starved  or  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  as  numbers  would  have  been  of  no  service  to  us,  and 
our  provisions  v/ere  all  lost.  As  our  horses  were  so  much  reduced,  and 
tbo»e  extremely  weak,  and  many  carrages  being  wanted  for  the  wounded 
men,  occasioned  our  destroying  the  ammunition  and  superfluous  part  of 
the  provisions  left  in  Colonel  Dunbar's  convoy,  to  prevent  its  falling  into 


Gen 

mou 

the 

havii 

rem  a 

built 

batte 

great 

<3ene 


1 


10 


lave  informed 
ion  put  it  our 
se  have  done, 
idvancing  first 
zed  by  another 
•,  b!vggnse,and 
jt  one  o'clock, 
ahela  we  heard 
ly  advanced  in 
ind  three  hund- 
i  confusion  and 
iditary  expedi- 
The  men  were 
he  officers,  that 
mmunition,  and 
\,  provisions  and 
t  as  far  as  Gist's 
needed  as  far  as 
'he  officers  were 
viour,  advancing 
^suciiexanipleto 
..     The  General 
wound  through 
13ih  inst.     Poor 
wounded.     Mr. 
ithes  shot  through 
latest  courage  and 
,ot;  Col.  Burton 
sent  you  a  list  of 
s  we  are  yet  able 
roy   to  the  Little 
it  manner.     The 
Ivith  the  necessary 
lody  of  the  convoy 
In  him  as  soon  as 
nd  expedition,  till 
at  this  disposition 
|d  or  fallen  into  the 
^  service  to  us,  and 
nuch  reduced,  and 
id  for  the  wounded 
.perfluous   part  of 
■ent  its  falling  into 


the  hands  ©f  the  enemy;  as  the  whole  of  the  artillery  is  lost,  and  tlie  troops 
are  ao  extremely  weakened  by  deaiiis,  wounds  and  sickness  it  was  judged 
impossible  to  make  any  further  attempts;  therefore,  Col.  Dunbar  is  return- 
ing to  Fort  Cumberland  with  every  thing  he  is  able  bring  up  with  him;  I 
propose  remaining  here  till  my  wound  will  suller  me  to  remove  to  Philadel- 
phia from  thence  I  shall  proceed  to  England;  wiiatever  commands  you 
may  have  for  ine  you  will  do  im;  the  honor  to  direct  to  me  liere.  By  the 
particular  disposition  of  the  Frencli  and  Indians  it  was  impossible  to  judge 
the  number  they  had  that  day  in  the  field.  Killed — General  Bradduck, 
Win.  Shirley,  Sec'y,  Col.  llalkctt.  Wounded,  Roger  Morris  and  Robert 
Orme,Aid-de-Camps;  Sir  John  St.  (Jlair,  Deputy  Quarter  Master  General; 
Matthew  Leslie,  Assistant ;  Lieut.  Col.  Gage;  between  six  and  seven 
hundred  officers  and  soldiers  killed  and  wounded." 


>WX'W1'X/V\<W\<W\'VW'W«  iV** 


The  next  article  which  we  shall  give  in  relation  to  that  action,  is  the 
notice  of  it  in  the  Gentleman^ s  Magazine,  published  in  London,  August 
1755,  a  few  weeks  after  the  defeat  took  place.  This  is  a  contemporaneous 
account;  it  exhibits  the  feeling  then  existing,  and  gives  the  fullest  list  of  the 
killed  and  wounded  officers  whieli  we  have  seen.  It  will  be  seen,  too,  that 
even  at  that  day  there  were  rumors  that  officers  killed  some  of  the  flying 
soldiers,  and  were  in  return  shot  down  by  them,  thus  giving  some  counten- 
ance to  the  story  that  Gen.  Braddock  was  shot  by  Favvcet.  Our  readers 
will  scarcely  fail  to  notice,  that  although  the  Virginia  troops  received  full 
credit  for  the  gallantry  they  displayed,  the  name  of  Washington  is  not 
mentioned. 

"Of  the  expeditions  set  on  foot  against  the  French  in  America,  mention- 
ed in  our  last,  the  issue  of  one  only  was  then  known,  the  capture  of  the  fort 
Beausejour,  by  Gen.  Monkton,  who  commanded  the  expedition  to  Fundy. 
We  have  received  the  following  account  of  General  Braddock,  who  was 
de!^tined  to  the  Ohio. 

"It  was  said  by  letters  from  Virginia,  dated  June  22d,  that  on  the  12th 
Gen.  Braddock,  with  2,000  regular  troops,  had  passed  the  Allegheny 
mountains,  and  was  within  5  days'  march  of  Duquesne,  a  French  fort  on 
the  Monongahela  river,  which  runs  into  the  Ohio.  Sir  John  St.  Clair 
having  advanced  nearenough  to  view  it,  and  consider  the  adjacent  ground, 
remarked  a  small  eminence  that  was  within  cannon  shot;  and  the  fort  being 
built  of  wood,  and  garrisoned  with  1,000  men,  it  was  proposed  to  erect  a 
battery  on  this  eminence,  and  set  fire  to  the  place,  by  throwing  into  it  a 
great  number  of  red  hot  balls. 

"Letters  from  Philadelphia,  dated  June  25,  gave  an  account,  that  the 
(general  had  been  long  detained  at  Will's  Creek,  and  greatly  distressed  for. 


I 


f 


■f' 


'20 

wont  offoraj^e  and  provisic.ns.     liandiiifr  the  troops  at  Virfriuiii  is  eaid  to 
have  boon  a  most  unfortunate  error,  as  neither  t'oraj^e,  provisions,  nor  car- 
riages were  there  to  bo  had,  ^nd  that  il'  they  liad  hmded  in  Poinisylvania  it 
would  have  saved  .)L'10,0(M>  Hterlinjr,  and  shdrti'ncd  the  march  six  wtuiks. 
Ho    was,  however,  promised  150  wagons,  iinil  HOO  horses,  with  a  hirgo 
quantity  of  forage  and  provisions,  to  be  furnisiicd  from  the  back  scttlo- 
inents  of  Pennsylvania;  but  after  tedious  and  anxious  expectation  of  these 
succors,  he  received,  instead  ot  150  wagon ',  only  15;  and  insteati  of  300 
horses  only  100.     This  disappointment,  hownver  great,  v/af  much  ag- 
gravated when  the  wagons  were  unloack  d,  for  the  provisi'-         ink  so  in- 
tolerably, that  he  must  have  suffered  very  greatly  from  hui.  ,jr,  who  could 
eat  it.     While  he  was  in  this  distress  he  received  an  unoxi)ected  supply 
of  £5000,  in  provisions  and  wine  (rom  Philadel[)hia,  which  was  sent  by 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Franklin.     The  General  accepted  this  present  with 
great  joy,  and  urged  Mr.  Franklin  to  use  his  interest  to  procure  further 
assistance.     Mr.  Franklin  observed  that  Gen.  St.  Clair's  dress  was  of  the 
Hussar  kind,  and  this  gave  him  a  hint  which  he  immediately  improved. 
He  caused  a  report  to  be  propagated  among  the  Germans,  that  except 
150  wagons  could  be  got  ready,  and  sent  to  the  Gen'iral  within  i  certain 
time,  St.  Clair,  who  was  a  Hussar,  would  come  among  them  and  take  away 
what  he  found  by  force.     The  Germans  liaviug  formerly  lived  under  des- 
potic power,  knew  the  Hussars  to.)  well  to  doubt  their  serving  themselves, 
and  believing  that  General  St.  Clair  was  indeed  a  Hussar,  they  provided 
instead  of  150,  200  wagons,  and  sent  them  within  the  time  Mr.  Franklin 
had  limited. 

♦'  The  Pennsylvanians  also  advanced  a  further  sum  above  the  King's 
bounty,  and  sent  him  190  wagons  more,  laden  each  with  a  ton  of  corn 
and  oats,  four  wagons  with  provisions  and  wine  for  the  officers,  and  GO 
head  of  fine  cattle  for  the  army. 

»  The  General,  as  soon  as  he  had  received  these  supplies,  pursued  his 
march,  having  received  from  time  to  time  various  and  contradictory  ac- 
counts of  the  strength  and  motions  of  the  enemy.  Fort  Duquesne  was 
sometimes  said  to  be  garrisoned  by  its  full  complement,  1000  men  ; 
sometimes  he  was  assured  by  French  deserters  that  the  garrison 
did  not  consist  of  more  than  200,  and  that  there  were  but  500  at  Venan- 
go and  Piesque  Isle,  on  the  banks  of  the  Lake  Erie,  distant  from  Duquesne 
about  90  miles.  He  received  also  frequent  intelligence  of  French  parlies 
in  motion,  particularly  of  a  considerable  number  that  were  seen  in  bat- 
teaux,  on  the  Lake  Ontario,  as  we  supposed  on  their  way  to  the  Ohio 
and  of  600  that  had  passed  the  lake  in  120  canoes  and  batteaux,  and  were 
going  to  Niagara.  It  was  expected  that  the  next  advices  would  give  an 
account  of  the  siege,  if  not  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Duquesne,  as,  every  one 
had  been  taught  to  believe,  that  our  force  in  that  part  of  the  world  was 
.40  much  superior  to  the  French,  that  to  march  and  take  possession  was 


I 


Maji 
Robl 
ItoA 

W.lf 
Sir 

Mat! 


Sir 
'/^ienl 


I 


iuiiv  is  said  to 
ions,  nor  car- 
.tiiisylvaiiia  it 
i;h  six  weeks. 
I,  Willi  a  largo 
0  back  setUo- 
Uition  ol"  iliese 
instead  of  300 
v/nH  much  a;j;- 
mk  so  in- 
,  jf,  who  could 
xpecled  supply 
ich  was  sent  by 
18  present  with 
procure  further 
cUtss  was  of  the 
ately  improved, 
ans, that  except 
within  a  certain 
m  and  take  away 
lived  under  des- 
rving  themselves, 
u',  they  provided 
me  Mr.  Franklin 

above  the  King's 
ilh  a  ton  of  corn 
olHcers,  and  GO 

plies,  pursued  his 
contradictory  ac- 
irt  Duqucsne  was 
nent,  1000  men  ; 
that  the  garrison 
but  500  at  Venan- 
.nt  from  Duquesne 

of  French  parties 
were  seen  in  bat- 
way  to  the  Ohio, 
batteaux,  and  were 
ces  would  give  an 
esne,  as,  every  one 

of  the  world  was 
ike  possession  was 


21 

the  Bainp  thing;  but  in  the  midst  of  this  impaticnro  and  confidence  wo 
\,  ere  ahirmcd  with  ihf  report  that  <  u'licral  Ihaihlock  hud  been  d'jt'catcd, 
and  soon  al'UM-,  the  foliouin",'  article  ai)peaieil  in  th(!  (Jazette: 

"  WiiiTKHArr.,  August  li'J,  n'yry. 

♦•By  his  Majesty's  ship  the  Spa-dor.so,  from  Virginia,  advice;  has  been 
receivrtl,  that  Major  General  liiadihicU,  havin-j:  advanced  with  2,000  men, 
and  all  the  stores  and  provisions  to  the  liiille  Meadows,  (ahout  twenty 
miles  beyond  I'ort  ( 'utn!)(";Ian(l  at  Will's  (Jrcok)  found  it  necessary  to 
leave  tho  !>realest  part  of  the  waioiis.  <t(\,  at  that  place,  niidiT  the  com- 
mand of  ('ol.  Dunbar,  with  a  detaehmeiit  of  hOO  men,  orderini^  him  to  fol- 
low as  fast  as  the  nature  of  the  servieo  would  admit,  'riie  General  having 
by  this  means  lessoned  his  line  of  march,  proceeded  with  gn-at  expeilition, 
his  corps  then  consisted  of  about  l'.iOO  men,  and  12  pieces  of  artillery  to- 
gether with  the  necessary  ammunition,  stores  and  ])rovisions.  Ou  the 
8th  of  July,  ho  encamped  with  ten  miles  of  Fort  l)n(iuesne;  and  on  the 
9th,  on  liis  march  thronjrh  the  woods  towards  that  Fort,  was  attacked  by 
a  body  of  French  and  Indians,  who  made  .i  sudden  fire  from  the  woods, 
which  put  the  troojis  into  great  confusion,  and  occasioned  their  retiring 
with  great  precipitation,  notwithstanding  all  the  endeavors  of  the  General 
and  the  olhcers,  many  of  whom  were  killed  wiiilst  tiiey  were  using  all 
possible  means  to  rally  the  men.  The  General  v/ho  exerted  himself  as 
much  as  -any  man  could  do,  after  having  live  horses  killed  under  him, 
was  shot  ttirougii  the  arm  and  the  lungs,  of  which  he  died  the  fourth  day. 
Sir  Peter  llalket  was  killed  on  the  si)ot.  Two  of  the  General's  aw  ^-de 
cimp,  (Captain  Orme  and  (>aptain  Morris,)  were  wounded.  His  Secre- 
tary, (son  to  Governor  Shirley,)  was  killed.  Sir  John  St.  Clair,  Quarter 
Master  General  and  his  assistant,  Mr.  Leslie,  both  wounded.  It  is  reck- 
oned tliere  were  about  200  killed,  and  400  wounded,  the  latter  are  mostly 
collected  at  Will's  Creek  to  which  place  Colonel  Dunbar,  with  the  re- 
mainaer  o(  the  troops,  was  retired,  irom  wiiom  a  more  particular  account 
is  expected. 

"The  following  list  has  been  received  of  the  officers  killed  and  wound- 
ed on  this  occasion: 


STAFF. 

Major  General  Braddock, 

Robert  Orme,  Ksq.,      <^    *    i     i    r'  .,,..     ? 
■u  1%/r      •     T7«  -s   Ai(ls-de-tamp,    > 

Koger  Morris,  Esq.,     I  *^ 

Wdliam  Shirley,  Esq.,  Secretary, 

Sir  John  St.  Clair,  Deputy  Quarter  xMaster  General, 

Matthew  Leslie,  Gent.,  his  Assistant, 


LATE  SIR  PETER  HALKET's  REGIMENT. 


died  of  liis  wounds, 
wounded. 


Sir  F^.  Halket,  (Colonel,  killed, 

./jient.  Col.  Gage,  wounded. 


Captain  Tatton, 
Captain  Gethins, 


killed, 
wounded. 


killed. 
(I 


I 


22. 


I 


•Liciitennnt  liiltlclor, 
"  Dunbar, 

»«  lliilkelt, 

•♦  Troi'by, 

♦•  Allen, 

*'  Simpson, 


HUHAI.TFKNH. 

wounded. 


kilUMl. 

woiuided. 

killed. 

wounded. 


Lieutenant  liOck, 
•»  Disney, 

'«  Kennedy, 

"  Townseiid, 

"  Narllow, 

•'  Pennington, 


wounded. 

killed. 
tt 

wounded. 


COLONKL  DUNDAR  S   RIUilMKNT. 


Tiiruf.  Col.  Burton, 
Major  Sparkes, 
Captain  Cholmlcy, 

wounded. 

4t 

('aptain  Kowyer, 
Captain  Koas, 

woundtid. 
It 

SIIHAI.TERNS. 

IJarhut, 

Wal.fhhm, 

Crirnble, 

wounded, 
killed. 

Hrereton, 
Hart, 

Montreseur, 

killed, 
ti 

wounded. 

Widenmn, 
Hanl'ord, 
Gladwin, 
Ednieston, 

it 
wounded. 

Macmullen, 
('row. 

Sterling, 

<« 
It 

ARTILLERY. 

Lieutenant  Smith, 
««    .      Buchanan, 

killed, 
wounded. 

Lieutenant  M'Cloud, 
M'CuUer, 

wounded. 
tt 

ENGINEERS. 


Peter  McKeller,  Esq., 
Robert  Gordon,  Esq., 


wounded. 

tt 


Williamson,  Esq.,    wounded. 


J 


V 

I 


tl 

tt( 
a 

S' 
ni 

HO 

of 

a  } 

thi 

hai 

roil 

ofi 

rrtr 

.sup 

\\0( 

tl 
wii 


DETACHMliXT  OF  SAILORS. 


Lieutenant  Spendelow, 
Mr.  Talbot,  Midshipman, 
Captain  Stone,  of  General  Lascelle's  Regiment, 
"       Floyer,  of  General  Warburlon's  Regiment, 


INDEPENDENT  COMPANIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


Captain  Gates, 
Lieutenant  Sumain, 


Capt?iin  Stevens, 
"       Poulson, 


wounded, 
killed. 


Lieutenant  Howarlh, 
"  Gray, 


killed. 

tt 

wounded. 


wounded. 
t( 


i 


VIRGINIA  TROOPS. 

wounded.     Captain  Peronie, 
killed. 

SUBALTERNS. 


Hamilton, 

Wright, 

Splitdorff, 


killed, 
it 


Stuart, 
Wagoner, 


men 

othe 

Was 

Hear 

This 

Vhod 

flank 

killed.    CP^g 
being 

then 

behin 

wounded,  iy  an( 

killed,  jjhe  e, 

•itraos 


wounilcil. 
It 
It 


I 


,d,  killed. 

tt 

ion,    wound 0(1. 


weiindiid. 
<t 


I 


killed. 


won 


nded. 
ti 
It 
tt 


nul,        wounded. 
Her, 


,  Esq.,    wounded. 

killed. 

ti 

wounded. 


larlh,        wounded. 
(I 


killed. 


wounded, 
killed. 


Scvoi-fil  other  arcnunts  of  this  aeiioii,  and  II.hIm  of  ihn  doud  and  wound- 
ed have  ap|)oaro(l  in  the  papers,  niid  arc  said  to  bo  taken  from  privato 
letters.  \\y  the  Ciazetto  account,  (General  Hrathiock  eeetns  to  have  been 
attacked  by  an  aml)usca(h'  of  French  and  Indians,  dii  hJH  march  thronj^h 
the  woods,  I)efore  he  came  within  siirht  of  the  enemy  ;  by  th»'  other  nc- 
pountH,  he  sf-enicd  to  have  reached  an  advanced  party  of  l-'rcnch,  before 
the  action  I)eL;an.     'I'hcy  are  to  tliis  cH't-'ct: 

•'The  French  who  were  post'-d  at  Fort  Diiqnesno,  and  on  the  Ohio, 
consisted  of  l„l(M)  r('<,Milar,  and  (K)0  irreiridar  troups,  who  had  with  them 
a  considerable  number  of  Iiuhans  in  th(!ir  intiMcst.  I'liese  forcres,  havinir 
gained  very  particular  intejliifonco  of  (Jeneral  Hraddock's  desiirn,  of  the 
number  ami  condition  of  his  forces,  and  tlie  route  they  wore  to  take,  no 
sooner  found  that  he  was  advancim;,  alter  havini^  received  his  last  supply 
of  provisions,  than  they  also  advanced  towards  him,  and  having  chosen 
a  very  advantageous  piece  of  grouiul,  ahont  six  miles  south  of  their  Fort, 
they  formed  a  camp  and  intre  ichcd  themselves  in  a  masterly  manner, 
having  a  thick  wood  on  each  side  of  them,  which  extended  along  the 
route  the  General  was  to  take.  When  he  was  come  within  three  miles 
of  their  intrenchments,  they  drew  out  of  their  lines,  plaeinir  their  000  ir- 
regulars in  front,  as  a  forlorn  hope,  and  their  1,.500  regulars  behind  to 
support  them  ;  they  also  stationed  a  great  number  of  their  Indians  in  the 
A\oods,  on  each  side,  who  efi'ectually  concealed  themselves  behind  trees 
and  bushes. 

"  Soon  after  this  fatal  disposition  was  made,  Gen.  Braddock  appeared 
with  his  troops  in  th(!  lbllowin<^r  order: 

Colonel  (i;(ge  and  Burton,  of  llalket's  regiment. 

The  General,  with  Dunl);ir's  llcgimcnt. 

The  troops  from  Virginia,  INlaryland,  and  Carolina. 

"  As  soon  as  t'le  whole  army  was  got  between  the  ambuscades,  the 
men  were  alarmed  by  the  Indians,  who  fired  singly  at  the  General  and 
other  particular  ofTiccrs;  upon  this  they  pushed  forward,  as  the  enemy 
was  in  sight  though  not  within  musket-shot,  and  as  soon  as  they  came 
iiear  enough,  the  attack  AVas  besun  by  the  Colonels'  Gage  and  Burton. 
This  was  a  signal  to  the  Indians  in  ambusli,  who  immediately  gave  the  war 
Vhoop,  and  rising  from  the  thickets,  discovered  themselves  on  both  sides, 
flanking  our  men  in  voUeys,  whicli  did  incredible  execution.  The  advan- 
ced guard,  being  now  between  three  fires,  immediately  gave  away  ;  but 
being  rallied  with  much  difficulty  by  tlie  ofucers,  they  gave  one  fire,  and 
then  retreated  in  the  utmost  confusion,  and  Dnnbar's  regiment  which  was 
behind  them  in  the  same  disorder.  They  were  with  unspeakable  difficul- 
iy  and  trouble  once  more  rallied  by  their  oflicers,  and  stood  one  fire  from 
^e  enemy,  but  then  without  returning  it,  both  the  regiments  fled  with  the 
•Imost  terror  and  precipitation,descrtingtheiroflicers,  who,  though  alone. 


24 


i 


•■   i 


I! 


kept  Iher  ground  until,  of  sixty,  only  tive  reiiiaiued  that  were  not  eitlier 
killed  or  wounded.  The  Vinrinians  who  formed  the  rear  still  stood  un- 
broken, and  continued  the  en^Tagement  on  very  unequal  terms  near  three 
hours,  but  were  the  compelled  to  retire.  Tliese  letters  give  the  same 
account  of  the  Gennral  as  tliat  in  the  Gazette,  but  add  that  all  the  baggage, 
provisions,  and  even  military  chests,  had  fallen  into  the  enemy's  hands. 
Other  letters,  however,  coatrndici  th's  particular,  and  say  that  the  artil- 
lery, baggage  and  uiilitary  chests  arc  sale,  being  two  days  behind  the 
army. , 

«'  There  is  indeed,  some  ror.'=on  to  hope  that  this  is  true,  from  the  ac- 
count published  by  aut::ority,  for  it  is  there  said  that  the  General  left  the 
baggage,  &;c.,  behind  him  twenty  miles,  tint  ho  might  march  with  the 
greater  expedition  ;  the  very  reat^on  of  his  leaving  them  behind  seems  to 
prove,  that  he  went  fi.rwarJ  without  hailing,  and  that  it  was  impossible 
the^men  with  the  baggage  should  keep  near  him  ;  so  that,  as  they  must 
have  been  considerably  behind  him  when  the  action  liappened,  it  is  pro- 
bable the  broken  troops  joined  them  in  their  retreat,  and  proceeded  safely 
with  the  baggage  to  AViU's  Creek. 

"  The  European  troop",  whose  cowardice  thus  has  injured  the  country, 
are  the  same  that  run  away  so  shamefully  at  Preston-Pans.  To  pre"ent 
however,  any  unjust  nat.onal  reflections,  it  must  be  remarked,  that  though 
they  are  called  Irish  regiments,  they  are  not  regiments  of  Irishmen,  but 
regiments  on  the  Irish  establishment,  consisting  of  Enirlish,  Irish  and 
Scots,  as  other  regiments  do.  It  is,  however,  said  that  the  slaughter  efTej 
among  our  officers  was  not  made  by  the  enemy,  but  that  as  they  ran  sev-  niu 
eral  fugitives  through  the  body  to  intimidate  the  rest,  when  they  were  gov 
attempting  in  vain  to  rally  them,  some  others,  who  expected  the  same  fate,  disl 
discliarged  their  pieces  at  them,  which,  though  loaded,  they  could  not  be  whii 
brought  to  level  at  the  French.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  alleged,  that  the  mo 
defeat  is  owing  more  to  presumption  and  want  of  conduct  in  the  officers,  Ion 
than  to  cowardice  in  the  private  men  ;  that  a  retreat  ought  to  have  been  col 
resolved  upon  the  moment  they  found  themselves  surprised  by  an  am-  den 
buscade;  and  that  they  were  told  by  the  men,  Avhen  they  refused  to  return  Gat 
to  the  charge,  that  if  they  could  see  their  enemy  they  would  fight  them,  liaii 
but  that  they  would  not  waste  their  ammunition  against  trees  and  bushes,  torn 
nor  stand  exposed  to  invisible  assailants,  the  French  and  Indian  Rangers,  •  " 
who  are  excellent  marksmen,  and  in  such  a  situation  would  inevitably  hav 
destroy  any  number  of  the  best  troops  in  the  world."  lin  r 

Mr.   Sparks    in  a   note  to    the  second  volunn^   of  his  edition  of  thc^^n 
Life  and  Writings  of  Washington,  gives  a  very  lucid  accountof  this  afTaii  ^"'^ 
we  here  introduce :  ,      •  ,.      **tJ 

"  The  defeat  of  General  Braddock,  on  the  banks  of  the  Monongahela^"^! 
^»<  one  of  the  most  remarkable  events  in  American  history,     (ireat  prc^""[ 


1 

c 

a 

tl 

n 

th 

in 

F( 

wi 
for 
dec 
joir 
Thi 
wet 
Cr( 


25 


were  not  either 
r  still  stood  un- 
terms  near  three 
3  give  the   same 


piirations  had  been  made  for  the  expedition  under  that  experienced  oflicer, 
and  there  was  the  most  sanguine  anticipation,  both  in  England  and  A.mer- 
pa,  of  its  entire  success.  Such  was  the  confidence  in  the  prowess  of 
Kraddock's  army,  according  to  Dr.  Franklin,  that,  while  he  was  on  his 
march  to  Fort  Duquesne,  a  subscription  paper  was  handed  about  in  PhiN 
adelphia  to  raise  money  to  celebrate  his  victory  by  bonfires  and  illumina- 
tions, as  soon  as  the  intelligence  should  arrive.  When,  therefore,  the 
news  of  his  total  defeat  and  overthrow  went  abroad,  the  eflect  produced 
on  the  public  mind  was  like  the  shock  of  an  earihquake,  unexpected  and 
astoundmg.  Of  the  possibility  of  such  an  issue  no  one  had  dreamed,  and 
the  expressions  of  surprise,  as  well  aii  of  disappointment,  were  loud  and 
universal.  The  consequences  were  alarming  to  the  middle  colonies,  as 
their  frontiers  were  left  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  the  French  and  Indians, 
in  which  situation  they  continued  till  Fort  Duquesne  was  taken  by  Gen. 
Forbes,  more  than  three  years  afterwards. 

"  General  Braddock  landed  in  Virginia  on  the  20th  of  Febuary,  1755, 
with  two  regiments  of  the  British  army  from  Ireland,  the  forty-fourth  and 
forty-eighth,  each  consisting  of  five  hundred  men,  one  of  them  comman- 
ded by  Sir  Peter  Halket,  and  the  other  by  Col.  Dunbar,     To  these  was 
joined  a  suitable  train  of  artillery,  with  military  supplies  and  provisions. 
The  General's  first   head-quarters  were  at  Alexandria,   and  the  troops 
were  stationed  in  that  place  and  its  vicinity,  till  they  marched  for  Will's 
Creek,  where  they  arrived  about  middle  of  May.     It  took  four  weeks  to 
effect  that  march.     In  letters  written  at  Will's  Creek,  Gen.  Braddock  with 
much  severity  of  censure  complained  of  the  lukewarmnessof  the  colonial 
when  they  were    governments,  and  tardiness  of  the  people  in  facilitating  his  enterprise,  the 
'  ted  the  same  fate,    dishonesty  of  agents,  and   the  faithlessness  of  contractors.     The  forces 
\   il  ov  could  not  be    which  he   brought   to   Will's   Creek,  however,   amounted   to  somewhat 
'■-    Ucffed  that  the    more  than  two  thousand  effective  men,  of  whom  abcnt  one  thousand  be- 
1     t  in'the  officers,   longed  to  the  royal  regiments,  and  the  remainder  were  furnished  by  the 
(Tht  to  have  been  colonies.     In  this  number  were  embraced  the  fragments  of  two  Indepen- 
.*imnl  bv  an  am-  dent  Companies  from  New  York,  one  of  which  was  commanded  by  Capt. 
k1     -  refused  to  return  Gates,  afterwards   a  major-general   in  the   Revolutionary  war.     Thirty 
•ould  tight  them,  bailors  had  also  been  granted  for  the  expediiion  by  Admiral  Keppel  who 
fees  and  bushes,  (Jommanded  the  squadron  that  brought  over  the  two  regiments. 
1  Tf^dia^  Rano-ers,  •   "  At  tiiis  post  the   army  was  detained  three  weeks,  nor  could  it  then 
vould  inevitably  have  moved,  had  it  not  been  for  the  energetic  personal  services  of  Frank- 
,  lin  among  the  Pennsylvania  farmers,  in  procuring  horses  and  wagons  to 

,.  .        c  j^j^f transport  the  artillery,  provisions,  and  baggage.     The  details  of  the  march 
^     ^  fibs  affair*^  ^^^^^  described  in  Col.  Washington's  letter^•.     The  army  was  separa- 

^  "^^  ltd  into  two  divisions.     Tiie  advanced  di\  ision,  under  Gen.  Braddock, 

.consisted  of  twelve  hundred  men,  besides  oflicers.     The  otiier,  under  Col. 

of  the  Mono  g         %inbar,  was  left  in  the  rear,  to  proceed  bv  slower  marches.     On   the 
history,     t^r^^atprc^  ^  '  • 

i 


t  all  the  baggage, 
enemy's  hands, 
ay  that  the  artil- 
days  behind  the 

rue,  from  the  ac- 
e  General  left  the 
marcii  with  the 
1  behind  seems  to 
h  was  impossible 
hat,  as  they  must 
ippened,  it  is  pro- 
1  proceeded  safely 

njured  the  country, 
Pans.  To  prevent 
narked,  that  though 
ts  of  Irishmen,  but 
En-lish,  Irisli  and 
that  the  slaughter 
lat  as  they  ran  sev 


•26 


11' I' 


*     ir 


«  I'- 1 


8Ui  of  July  the  General  arrived  with  his  divifeion,  all  m  excellent  health 
and  spirits,  near  the  junction  of  the  Youghiogeny  and  Monongahela  rivers. 
At  this  place  Col.  Washington  joined  the  advanced  division,  being  but  par- 
tially recovered  from  a  severe  attack  of  fever,  which  had  been  the  cause  of 
his  remaining  behind.  The  officers  and  soldiers  were  now  in  higher 
spirits,  and  firm  in  the  conviction  that  they  should,  within  a  few  hours, 
victoriously  enter  the  walls  of  Fort  Duquesne. 

♦«  The  steep  and  rugged  grounds  on  the  north  side  of  the  Monongahela 
prevented  the  army  from  marcliing  in  that  direction,  and  it  was  necessary, 
in  approaching  the  fort,  now  about  fifteen  miles  distant,  to  ford  the  river 
twice,  and  march  a  part  of  the  way  on  the  south  side.  Early  on  the 
morning  of  the  9th  all  things  were  in  readiness,  and  the  whole  train  pass- 
ed through  the  river  a  little  below  the  mouth  of  the  Youghiogeny,  and 
proceeded  in  perfect  order  along  the  southern  margin  of  the  Monongahela. 
Washington  was  often  heard  to  say  during  his  lifetime,  that  the  most  beau- 
tiful spectacle  he  had  ever  beheld,  was  the  beautiful  display  of  the  British 
troops  on  this  eventful  morning.  Every  man  was  beautifully  dressed  in 
full  uniform  ;  the  soldiers  were  arranged  in  columns,  and  marched  in  exact 
order;  the  sun  gleamed  from  their  burnished  arms,  the  river  flowed  trail" 
quilly  on  the  right,  and  the  deep  forest  overshadowed  them  with  solemn 
grandeur  on  their  left.  Officers  and  men  were  equally  inspirited  with 
cheering  hopes  and  confident  expectations. 

"  In  this  manner  they  marched  forward  till  about  noon,  when  they  ar- 
rived at  the  second  croossing-pUce,  ten  miles  from  Fort  Duquesne. — 
They  halted  but  a  little  time,  and  then  began  to  ford  the  river  and  regain 
its  northern  bank.  As  soon  as  they  had  crossed,  they  came  upon  a  level 
plain,  elevated  but  a  few  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  river,  and  extending 
northward  nearly  half  a  mile  from  its  margin.  Then  commenced  a  grad- 
ual ascent  at  an  angle  of  about  three  degrees,  which  terminated  in  hills  of 
a  considerable  height,  at  no  great  distance  beyond.  The  road  trom  the 
fording-place  to  Fort  Duquesne  led  across  the  plain  and  up  this  ascent, 
and  thence  proceeded  through  an  uneven  country,  at  that  time   covered 

with  woods. 

"  By  the  order  of  march,  a  body  of  three  hundred  men  under  Colonel 
Gage,  made  the  advanced  party,  which  v/as  immediately  followed  by 
another  of  two  hundred.  Next  came  the  General  with  the  columns  of  ar- 
tillery, the  main  body  of  the  army,  and  the  baggage.  At  one  o'clock  the 
whole  had  crossed  the  river,  and  almost  at  this  moment  a  sharp  firing 
was  heard  upon  the  advanced  parties,  who  were  now  ascending  the  hill. 
and  had  got  forward  about  a  hundred  yards  from  the  termination  of  the 
plair.  A  heavy  discharge  of  musketry  was  poured  jn  upon  their  front 
which  was  the  first  intelligence  they  had  of  the  proximity  of  an  enemy 
and  this  was  suddenly  followed  by  another  on  the  right  flank.  They 
were  filled  with  greater  consternation,  as  no  enemy  was  in  sight,  and  th* 


k 


i 


eiL-ellent  heallli 
longahela  rivers^ 
n,  being  but  par- 
)een  the  cause  of 
now  in  higher 
^in  a  few   hours, 


I 


the  Monongabela 
it  was  necessary  < 

to  ford  the  river 
;.     Early  on   the 
whole  train  pass- 
im oughiogeny,  and 
the  Monongahela. 
hat  the  most  beau- 
play  of  the  British 
itifuUy  dressed  in 
d  marched  in  exact 
.  river  flowed  tran" 

iheni  with  solemn 
dly  inspirited  with 

oon,  when  they  ar- 
Fort  Duquesne. — 
Ihe  river  and-  regain 
f  came  upon  a  level 
river,  and  extending 
commenced  a  grad- 
er m  in  ated  in  hills  of 
The  road  troni   the 
and  up  this  ascent, 
iit  that  time   covered 

\  men  under  Colonel 

ediately  followed  by 

th  the  columns  of  ar- 

At  one  o'clock  the 

jment   a  sharp  firing 

)W  ascending  the  hill 

le  termination  of  the 

id  in  tipon  their  front 

roximity  of  an  enemv 

le  right  flank.     They 

was  in  sight,  and  the 


27 

firing  seemed  to  proceed  from  an  invisible  loe.  Tliey  tired  in  their  turn 
however,  but  cyuite  at  random  and  obviously  without  eflect,  as  the  enemy 
kept  up  a  discharg-e  in  quick  and  continued  succession. 

"The  General  advanced  speedily  to  the  relief  of  these  detachments; 
but  before  he  could  reach  the  spot  which  they  occupied,  they  gave  way  and 
fell  back  upon  the  artillery  and  the  otiier  columns  of  the  army,  causing 
extreme  confusion  and  striking  the  whole  mass  with  such  a  panic,  that  no 
order  could  afterwards  be  restored.  The  General  and  the  officers  behav- 
ed with  the  utmost  courage,  and  used  every  eff'ort  to  rally  the  men,  and 
bring  them  to  order,  but  all  in  vain.  In  this  state  they  contmued  nearly 
three  hours,  huddling  together  in  confused  bodies,  firing  irregularly 
shooting  down  their  own  officers  and  men,  and  doing  no  perceptible  harm 
to  the  enemy.  The  Virginia  provincials  were  the  only  troops  who  seemed 
to  retain  their  senses,  and  they  behaved  with  a  bravery  and  resolution 
worthy  a  better  fate.  They  adopted  the  Indians  mode,  and  fought  each 
Mian  for  himself  behind  a  tree.  This  was  prohibited  by  the  General,  who 
•endeavored  to  form  his  men  into  platoons  and  columns,  as  if  they  had  been 
manffiuvring  on  the  plains  of  Flanders.  Meantime  the  French  and  Indians 
concealed  in  the  ravines  and  behind  trees,  kept  up  a  deadly  and  unceasing 
discharge  of  musketry,  singling  out  their  objects,  taking  deliberate  aim, 
and  producing  a  carnage  almost  unparalleled  in  the  annals  modern  warfare. 
More  than  half  of  the  whole  army,  which  had  crossed  the  river  in  so  proud 
an  array  only  three  hours  before,  were  killed  or  wounded  ;  the  General 
himself  had  received  a  mortal  wound,  and  many  of  his  best  officers  had 
fallen  by  his  side. 

"  In  describing  the  action  a  few  days  afterwards.  Colonel  Orme,  wrote 
<o  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  :  '  The  men  were  so  extremely  deaf  to 
the  exhortation  of  the  General  and  the  officers,  that  they  fired  away  in 
the  most  irregular  manner  all  their  ammunition,  and  then  ran  oflf,  leav- 
ing to  the  enemy  the  artillery,  ammunition,  provision,  and  baggage ; 
nor  could  they  be  persuaded  to  stop  till  they  got  as  far  as  Gist's 
plantation,  nor  there  only  in  part,  many  of  them  proceeding  as  far  as 
Col.  Dunbar's  party  who  lay  six  miles  on  this  side.  The  officers  were 
absolutely  sacrificed  by  their  good  behavior,  sometimes  advancing  in  bodies, 
sometimes  separately  hoping  by  such  example  to  engage  the  soldiers  lo 
follow  them,  but  to  no  purpose.  The  Generd  had  five  horses  shot 
under  him,  and  at  last  received  a  wound  through  his  right  arm  in'o  his 
lungs,  of  which  he  died  on  the  13th  inst.  Secretary  Shirley  was  shot 
through  the  head  ;  Capt.  Morris,  wounded.  Col.  Washington  had  two 
horses  shot  under  him  and  his  clothes  shot  through  in  several  places  be- 
having the  whole  time  with  the  greatest  courage  and  resolution.  Sir 
Peter  Halket  was  killed  upon  the  spot.  Col.  Burton  and  Sir  John  St. 
Clair  were  wounded.  In  addition  to  these,  the  other  field  officers  wound- 
ed were  Lieutenant  Colonel  Gage  (afterwards  so  well  known  as  the  com- 


i 


•28 

mander  of  the  British  loroes  in  Boston, at  the  bejrinningof  the  Revolulion,) 
Col.  Orme,  Maj.  Sparks,  nnd  Brigade-Major  Halket  Ten  captains  were 
killed,  and  five  wounded;  fifteen  lieutenants  killed,  and  twenty-two  wound- 
ed; the  whole  number  of  ofhcers  in  the  engagement  was  eighty-six,of  whom 
twenty-six  were  "villed,  and  thirty-seven  wounded.  The  killed  and 
wounded  of  the  privates  amounted  to  seven  hundred  and  fourteen.  Of 
these  at  least  one  half  were  supposed  to  be  killed.  Their  bodies,  left  on 
the  field  of  action,  were  stripped  and  scalped  by  the  Indians.  All  the 
artillery,  ammunition,  provisions,  and  baggage,  every  thing  in  the  train  of 
the  army,  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands,  and  were  given  up  to  be  pillaged  by 
the  savages.  General  Braddock's  papers  were  also  taken,  among  which 
were  his  instructions  and  corespondence  with  the  ministry  after  his  arri- 
val in  Virginia.  The  same  fate  befel  the  papers  of  Col.  Washington, 
a  private  journal  and  his  omcial  correspondenoo  during  his  campaign  of 
the  preceeding  year. 

"  No  circumstantial  account  of  this  afTair  has  ever  been  published  by 
the  French,  nor  has  it  hitherto  been  known  from  any  awdientic  source 
what  numbers  were  engaged  on  their  side.  Washington  conjectured,  as 
stated  in  his  letteics,  that  there  were  no  more  than  three  hundred,  and 
Dr.  Franklin,  in  his  account  of  the  battle,  considers  them  at  most  as  not 
exceeding  four  hundred.  The  truth  is,  there  was  no  accurate  informa- 
tion on  ihe  subject,  and  writers  have  been  obliged  to  rely  on  conjecture. 

"In  the  archives  of  the  War  Department,  at  Paris,  I  found  three  sep- 
arate narratives  of  this  event  written  at  the  time,  all  brief  and  imperfect, 
but  one  of  them  apparently  drawn  up  'iy  a  person  on  the  spot.  From 
these  I  have  collected  the  following  particulars. 

"  M.  de  Contrecffiur,  the  commandant  of  Fort  Duquesne,  received  earlv 
intelligence  of  the  arrival  of  General  Braddock  and  the  British  regiments 
in  Virgmia.  After  his  remove  from  Will's  Creek,  French  and  Indian 
scouts  were  constanUy  abroad,  who  watched  his  motions,  reported  the 
progress  of  his  march,  and  the  route  he  was  pursuing.  His  army  was 
represented  to  consist  of  three  thousand  men.  iM.  de  Contrecaur  was 
hesitating  what  measures  to  take,  believing  his  small  force  wholly  in- 
adequate to  encounter  so  formidable  an  army,  when  jM.  de  Beaujeu,  a  cap- 
tain in  the  French  service,  proposed  to  head  a  detachment  of  French  and 
Indians,  and  meet  the  enemy  in  their  march.  The  consent  of  the  In- 
dians was  first  to  be  obtained.  A  large  body  of  them  w^as  then  en- 
camped in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort,  and  M.  de  Beaujeu  ope  led  to  them 
his  plan,  and  requested  their  aid.  This  they  at  first  defined,  ;ziving  as 
a  reason  the  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  and  the  impossibility  of  suc- 
cess. But  at  the  pressing  solicitation  of  M.  de  Beaujeu.  they  j.greed  to 
hold  a  council  on  the  subject,  and  to  talk  with  him  again  the  next  morn- 
ing. They  still  adhered  to  their  first  decision,  and  when  M.  de  Beaujeu 
went  out   among  them  tp  inquire  the  result  of   their   deliberation,  they 


29 


?  Revolution,) 
captains  were 
y-two  wound- 
t^-six,of  whom 
{Q  killed  and 
fourteen.     Of 
)odles,  left  on 
ans.     All  the 
in  the  train  of 
be  pillaged  by 
among  which 
after  his  arri- 
.  Washingion, 
s  campaign  of 

1  published  by 
ahentic  source 
conjectured,  as 

hundred,  and 
at  most  as  not 
urate  informa- 

on  conjecture, 
^und  tliree  sep- 

■cind  imperfect, 
e  spot.     From 

received  early 
tish  regunents 
ch   and  Indian 
,  reported   the 
His  army  was 
oiitreccEur  was 
rce   wholly  in- 
Beaujeu,a  cap- 
t  of  French  and 
ent  of  the  In- 
was    ihen  pn- 
le.ied    to  them 
ined,  giving  as 
sihility  of  suc- 
they  jjgreed  to 
the  next  morn- 
M.  de  Beaujeu 
iberatioii,  they 


told  him  a  second  time  Ih-tt  tliey  could  not  g(»,  'I'his  was  a  severe  dis- 
appointment  to  M.  do  lidaujeu,  who  had  set  his  jieart  upon  the  r-nter. 
prize,  and  was  resolved  to  prosecute  it.  Being  a  man  of  great  good  na- 
ture, affability,  and  ardor,  and  much  beloved  by  the  savane.s',  \w  said  to 
th(;in  :  « I  am  determined  to  go  out  aiul  meet  tiie  enemy.  What!  will 
you  suffer  your  fatlicr  to  go  out  alone?  1  am  sure  we  shall  conquer.' 
With  this  spirited  harangue,  delivered  in  a  manner  that  pleased  the  In- 
dians, and  won  upon  their  conruJencc,  he  subdued  their  unwilliii<rness. 
and  they  agreed  to  accompany  him. 

'« It  was  now  the  7lh  of  July,  and  news  came  that  the  English  were 
within  six  leagues  of  the  fort.  This  day  and  the  next  were  spent  in 
making  preparations,  and  reconuoitreing  the  ground  for  attack.  Two 
other  Captains,  Dmr.as  and  Lignery,  were  joined  with  \I.  de  Beaujeu, 
and  also  four  lieutenants,  six  ensigns,  and  two  cadets.  On  the  morning 
of  the  9th  they  were. all  in  readiness,  and  began  their  march  at  an  early 
hour.  It  seems  to  have  been  their  first  intention  to  make  a  stand  at  the 
ford,  and  annoy  the  English  while  crossing  tiie  river,  and  then  retreat  to 
the  ambuscade  on  the  side  of  the  hill  where  the  contest  actually  com- 
menced. The  trees  on  the  bank  of  the  river  afforded  a  good  opportu- 
nity to  affect  this  nianreuvre,  in  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare,  since  the 
artillery  could  be  of  little  avail  agiinst  an  enemy,  vhere  every  man  was 
protected  by  a  tree,  and  at  the  same  time  the  English  would  be  exposed 
to  a  point-blank  musket-shot  in  fording  the  river.  As  it  happened,  how- 
ever, M.  de  Beaujeu  and  his  party  did  not  arrive  in  time  to  execute  this 
part  of  the  plan. 

The  English  were  preparing  to  cross  the  river,  wlien  the  French  and 
Indians  reached  the  deliles  on  the  rising  ground,  where  they  posted  them- 
selves, and  waited  till  Braddock's  advanced  columns  came  up.  This 
was  a  signal  for  the  attack,  which  was  made  at  first  in  front,  and  re- 
pelled by  so  heavy  a  discharge  I'rom  the  British,  that  the  Indians  be- 
lieved it  proceeded  from  artillery,  and  showed  symptoms  of  wavering 
and  retreat.  At  this  moment  M.  de  Beaujeu  was  killed,  and  the  com- 
mand devolving  on  M.  Dumas,  he  showed  great  presence  of  mind  in  rally- 
ing the  Indians,  and  ordered  his  officers  to  lead  them  to  the  wings  and 
attack  the  enemy  in  flank,  while  he  with  the  French  troops  would  main- 
tain the  attack  in  front.  'J'he  order  was  promptly  ol)e)ed,  and  the  at- 
tack became  general.  The  action  was  warm  and  severely  contested  for 
a  short  time  ;  but  the  English  fouirht  in  tiie  European  method,  tiring 
at  random,  which  had  little  effect  in  the  woods,  while  the  Indians  fired 
from  concealed  places,  took  aim,  and  almost  every  shot  brought  down  a 
man.  The  English  columns  soon  got  into  confusion;  the  yell  of  the 
savages,  with  which  the  woods  resounded,  struck  terror  into  the  hearts 
of  the  soldiers,  till  at  length  they  took  to  ffight,  and  resisted  all  the  en- 
deavois  of  their  officers  to  restore  any  degree  of  order   in  their  escape 


1 


'  1 


II 


) ,  I 


1 1 


i: 


f 


HO 


Jilt. 


The  rout  was  compl('te,  and  the  (ield  of  biittl    wms  left,  covered  with  the 

IT 

dead  and  wounded,  and  all  the  artillery,  aif. Munition,  provisions  and 
baggage  of  the  Ent^lish  army.  The  Indians  V'-ive  themselves  up  to 
pillage,  wiiich  prevented  them  from  pursuing  the  English  in  their 
flight. 

"  Such  is  the  substance  of  the  acj;ount.s  written  at  the  time  by  the 
French  officers,  and  sent  home  to  their  government.  In  regard  to  the 
numbers  cn<ra<>-ed,  there  are  some  slirrht  variations  in  the  three  state, 
inents.  The  largest  number  reported  is  two  hundred  and  fifty  French 
and  Canadians,  and  six  hundred  and  forty-one  Indians  ;  and  the  small- 
est, two  hundred  and  thirty-three  French  and  Canadians,  and  six  bun" 
dred  Indians.  If  we  take  a  medium,  it  will  make  the  whole  number  led 
out  by  iVi.  de  Beaujeu  at  least  eight  hundred  and  fifty.  In  an  imperfect 
return,  three  officers  were  stated  to  be  killed,  and  four  wounded;  about 
thirty  soldiers  and  Indians  killed,  and  as  many  wounded. 

"  When  these  facts  are  taken  into  view,  the  result  of  the    action  will 
appear  much  less  wonderful  than   has  generally  been   supposed.     And 
this  wonder  will  be  still  diminisiied   when  another  circumstance    is  re- 
curred to,  worthy  of  particular  consideration,  and  that    is,  the  shape  of 
the  ground  on  which  the  battle   was  fought.     This   part  of  the  descrip- 
tion, so  essential  to  the  understanding  of  military  operations,  and  above 
all  in  tlie  present  instance,  has  never  been  touched  upon,  it   is  believed, 
by  any  writer.     We  have  seen  that  Braddock's  advanced   columns,  after 
crossing  the  valley  extending  for  nearly  half  a  mile   from  the  margin  of 
the  river,  began  to  move  up  a  hill,  so  uniform  in  its  ascent,  that  it  was  lit- 
tle else  than  an  inclined  plane  of  a  somewhat  crownintj  form.     Down  this 
inclined  surface  extended  two  ravines,  beginning  near  together,  at  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  bottom  of  the  hill,  and  proceeding  in 
different  directions  till  they  terminated  in  the  valley  below.     In  these  ra- 
viuvjs  the  French  and  Indians  were  concealed  and  protected.     At  this  day 
they  are  from  eight  to  ten  feet  deep,  and  sufficient   to  contain  at  least  a 
thousand  men.     At  the  time  of  the  battl»  the  ground  was  covered  with 
trees  and  long  grass,  so  that  the  ravines   were  entirely  hidden  from  view 
till  they  approached  with  in  a  few  feet.     Indeed,  at  the  present  day,  al-  j 
though  the  place  is  cleared  from  trees,  and    converted  into  pasture,  they 
are  perceptible  only  at  a  very  short  distance.     By  this  knowledge  of  local 
pecularities  of  the  battle  ground,  the  mystery,  that  the  British  conceived 
themselves  to  be  contending  with  an  invisible  foe,  is  solved.     Such  was 
literally  the  fact.     They  were  so  paraded  between  the  ravines  that  their 
whole  front  and  flank  were  exposed  to  the  incessant  fire  of  the  enemy, 
who  discharged  their  muskets  over  the  edge  of  the  ravines  concealed  during 
that  operation  by  the  grass  and  bushes,  and  protected  by  an  invincible 
barrier  below  the  surface  of  the  earth.     William  Butler,  a  veteran  soldier 
still  living  (1832),  who  was  in  this  action,  and  afterwards  attiie  Plains  of 


ered  with  the 
rovisions  and 
iselves  up  to 
•lish    in    their 


t^.i^ 


time  by  the 
rejiard  to  the 
e  three  state, 
J  fifty  French 
md  the  small- 
and  six  hun* 
ile  number  led 
I  an  imperfect 
)unded ;  about 

le    action  will 
ipposed.     And 
mstance    is  re- 
3,  the  shape  of 
[)t  the  descrip- 
3ns,  and  above 
it  is  believed, 
columns,  after 
1  the  margin  of 
,  that  it  was  lit- 
m.     Down  this 
irether,  at  about 
d  proceeding  in 
7.     In  these  ra- 
d.     At  this  day 
ontain  at  least  a 
iS  covered  with 
dden  from  view 
present  day,  al- 
io pasture,  they 
owledg.:-  of  local 
ritish  conceived 
;ed.     Such  was 
avines  that  their 
3  of  the  enemy, 
concealed  during 
by  an  invincible 
a  veteran  soldier 
s  at  tiie  Plains  of 


]■( 


I! 


i. 


( 


^.^^^ocfs  i 


OiUrspie  St:  l'llty<^ 


31 

Abraham,  said  to  iiie  :  '  Wc  coultl  only  lell  \\  here  the  enemies  wer"  l»r 
the  smoke  of  their  muskets.'  A  few  scruteriiijr  Indians  were  behind  trees, 
and  Hom-J  were  killed  in  vcntnrinjj  out  to  lake  scalps,  but  much  the  larger 
portion  fouc;ht  wholly  in  the  ravines. 

"It  is  not  probable  that  cither  General  Hraddock  or  any  one  of  his  of- 
ficers suspected  the  actual  .situation  of  the  enemy,  durinfr  the  whole  bloody 
contest.  It  was  a  fault  in  the  (4aneral,  for  which  no  apology  can  be  offer- 
rd,  that  he  did  not  kcej)  scouts  and  laniards  in  advance,  and  on  th(>  wings 
of  his  army,  who  would  have  made  all  proper  discoveries,  Ijcfore  the 
whole  had  been  bronght  into  a  snare.  This  neglect  was  the  primary 
cause  of  his  defeat  which  might  have  been  avoidcil.  ll;id  he  charged 
with  the  bayonet,  the  ravines  would  have  been  cleared  instantly  ;  or  had 
lie  brought  his  artillery  to  the  points  where  thf  ravines  terminated  in  the 
Valley,  and  scoured  them  with  grape-shot,  the  same  consequence  would 
have  followed.  But  the  total  insubordinations  of  his  troops  would  have 
prevented  both  these  movements,  even  if  he  had  become  acciuaintml  with 
the  ground,  in  the  early  part  of  the  action.  The  disasters  of  this  day,  and 
the  fate  of  the  commander,  brave  and  resolute  as  he  undoulnedly  was,  are 
to  be  ascribed  to  his  contempt  of  Indian  warfare  ;  his  overweening  con- 
fidence in  the  prowess  of  veteran  troops  ;  his  obstinate  self-complacency; 
his  disregard  of  prudent  counsel ;  and  his  negligence  in  leaving  his  army 
exposed  to  a  surprise  on  the  march.  lie  freely  consulted  Col.  Washington, 
whose  experience  and  judgment,  notwithstanding  his  youth,  claimed  the 
higi:est  respect  for  his  opinions;  but  the  (Jeneral  gave  liltte  hoed  to  his 
advice. 

While  on  his  inarch,  George  Croghp.n,  the  Indian  interpreter,  joined 
him  with  one  hundred  frientUy  Indians,  who  olfered  their  services. — 
These  were  accepted  in  so  cold  a  manner,  and  tbe  Indians  themselves 
treated  with  so  much  neglect  that  they  deserted  him  one  after  another. 
Washington  press-^d  upon  him  the  importance  of  these  men,  and  the  ne- 
cessity of  conciliating  and  retaining  them,  but  without  ed'ect. 

"  A  report  has  long  been  current  in  Pennsylvania,  that  Braddock  was 
shot  by  one  of  his  own  men,  founded  on  the  declaration  of  a  provincial 
soldier,  who  was  in  the  action.  There  is  another  tradition,  also  worthy 
of  notice,  which  rests  on  the  authority  of  Dr.  Craik,  the  intimate  friend 
of  Washington  from  his  boyhood  to  his  death,  and  who  was  with  him  at 
the  battle  of  the  Monongahela.  Fifteen  years  after  that  event,  they  trav- 
elled together  on  an  expedition  to  the  western  country,  with  a  party  of 
woodsmen,  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  wild  lands.  While  near  the 
junction  of  the  Great  Kenhawa  and  Ohio  Rivers,  a  company  of  Indians 
came  to  them  with  an  interpreter,  at  the  head  of  whom  was  an  aged  ven- 
erable chief.  This  personage  made  known  to  them  by  the  interpreter, 
that,  hearing  ('oloncl  Washington  was  in  that  region,  he  had  come  a  Itnu 


U 


32 


n 


way  to  visit  him,  addinjr  ihat  (liiriiii;  tlin  hattlo  of  Moiionjfaliela,  he  had 
Hinphd  him  out  an'a  coiispifuous  ohjccl  ;  lirecl  his  rirtu  at  him  many 
timofl,  atui  dircrtod  ins  youu^r  warriors  to  do  iho  samn,  but  to  his  uttor 
uHloMJ.shiiioMl  iioiu!  oC  thcir  I). ills  look  clUict.  He  was  then  pcrHuaded 
that  the  youthful  hero  was  uud(!r  the  special  ijfuardianwhip  of  the  (Jreat 
Spirit,  niul  ceased  to  lire  at  him  any  loiijrcr.  He  was  now  come  to  pay 
liomaji^e  to  tho  man  who  waH  the  particular  favorite  of  heaven,  and  who 
eould  never  die  in  hattlo.  Mr.  Custis  of  Arlington,  to  whom  these  in- 
cidents were  related  by  Dr.  Craik,  has  dramatized  them  in  a  piece  called 
The,  Indian  Prophccfj. 

When  the  battle  was  over,  and  the  remnant  of  IJraddock's  army  had 
gained,  in  their  flight,  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  Col.  Washington 
was  despatched  by  the  ( reneral  to  meet  Coi.  Dunbar,  and  order  forward 
wagons  for  the  wounded,  wi'.h  all  possible  speed.  Ihit  it  was  !u)t  till 
the  lull,  after  they  had  reached  Ciist's  plantation,  with  great  didiculty  and 
much  suflering  from  hunger,  that  any  arrived.  The  (n'lieral  was  at  first 
brought  oil*  in  a  tumbril ;  ho  was  next  put  on  horseback,  but,  being  una- 
ble to  ride,  was  obliged  to  be  carried  by  the  soldiers.  They  all  reached 
Dunbar's  camp,  to  which  the  panic  had  already  extended,  and  a  day  was 
passed  i;i  the  greatest  confusion.  The  artillery  was  destroyed,  and  the 
public  stores  and  heavy  baggage  were  burnt,  by  whose  order  was  never 
known.  Thfty  moved  forward  on  the  I3ih,  and  that  night  Gen.  Braddock 
died,  and  was  buried  in  the  road,  for  the  purpose  of  concealing  his  body 
from  the  Indians.  The  spot  is  pointed  out;  within  a  few  yards  of  the 
present  National  Road,  and  about  a  mile  west  of  the  site  of  Fort  Neces- 
.sity  at  the  Great  Meadows.  Captain  Stewart,  of  the  Virginia  lorces,  had 
particular  charge  of  him  from  the  time  he  was  W(/unded  until  his  death. 
On  the  17th  the  sick  and  wounded  arrived  at  Fort  Cumberland,  and  were 
soon  after  joined  by  Colonel  Dunbar  with  the  remaining  fragments  of  the 
army.  The  French  sent  out  a  party  as  far  as  Dunbar's  camp>  and  destroy- 
ed every  thing  that  was  left.  Colonel  Washington  being  i.  ""jry  feeble 
health,  proceeded  in  a  few  days  to  Mount  Vernon, 


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